Member Article

David Wilson Homes continues investment in the future of construction with local university visit

Post-graduate students from Leeds Beckett University have visited David Wilson Homes’ Garnett Wharfe development in Otley, to gain a valuable insight into the construction of a new development on a former brownfield site.

The students, who are studying an MA in Housing Regeneration and Urban Management, visited Garnett Wharfe, which is built on the site of an old paper mill, for a tour led by Site Manager Alan Carr and Planning Manager, Mark Jones. They were shown the flagship development whilst learning about the issues and challenges encountered with the previously developed site. Mark will also be visiting the University this week to give a lecture on housebuilding.

David Wilson Homes has increasingly invested in training and education of young people in construction through university partnerships and its apprenticeship, graduate and sponsored degree programmes. This includes allowing senior staff at their divisional office in Leeds to take time out of their busy schedules to go and meet the next generation of employees in the housing industry.

Mark Jones, Planning Manager at David Wilson Homes commented: “At the beginning of my career I did an MA course at the University, so it is nice to give something back. I never got the opportunity to visit a site and listen to people involved in construction so hopefully engagement like this will help to inspire young people to start a career in construction. Many are unaware of the opportunities available to them, so trips and guest lectures like this are so important in giving students an insight into housing and showing them the roles on offer.”

Dr Quintain Bradley at Leeds Beckett University, commented: “Site visits such as this are so valuable to our industry, getting out of the classroom and seeing potential careers in action and learning from the experts is inspiring for our students. It really helps them find out more about the course they are undertaking and potential career paths. It is important that skilled construction professionals support us in educating the workers of the future, and in turn they may enter into a career building the quality homes of the future.

“This is why it is brilliant that David Wilson Homes’ staff have taken time out of their busy schedules to show our students around such an interesting site and accepted our invite to come and talk to our students. These trips are real eye openers for the students, and they really enjoy having the unique opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into a practical working context.”

Garnett Wharfe is a collection of luxury one, two, three and four bedroom homes, set along the banks of the picturesque river Wharfe, in Otley. Homes are available to purchase from £164,995.

For more information on any David Wilson Homes developments near you, please visit https://www.dwh.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .