Twelve bricklaying students from TyneMet College (part of Tyne Coast College) were given a unique opportunity to gain hands-on industry experience during a visit to South Tyneside College’s new £95 million campus development in South Shields.
The students, who are currently studying Level 1 Bricklaying at TyneMet College, visited the live construction site as part of their course to see first-hand how skills learned in the classroom are applied within a real working environment.
During the visit, students were welcomed by staff from Castle, the lead contractor delivering the new-build project. The session began with a presentation introducing the Hebburn-based construction company, outlining the scale of the development and highlighting the wide range of careers and job roles involved in the construction industry.
Equipped with full PPE, the students then headed onto the construction site itself — a first-time experience on a live site for many of the students. Working alongside Neil Drew and James Taggert, the management team from Castle’s specialist subcontractor, Labourn Construction and their experienced bricklayers, the students took part in a practical activity designed to put the skills they have developed at college into practice.
Following the practical session, the group were given a guided tour of the development, visiting each floor of the new build while Castle’s project managers, Max and Lee explained the various stages of the construction process and how each element contributes to the overall project.
Chris Meadowcroft, operations director at Castle, said:
It was a pleasure to host the students and to provide them with real-life experience on a project that will shape not only their futures but the tens of thousands of students that will attend the college for years to come. Many of our project team, that hosted the students, have studied and trained at colleges at the outset of their careers. They understand the need to encourage the next generation in the construction industry and with this in mind wanted to make the site visit a special day for them, ensuring it was as informative and interesting as possible and that was reflected in the questions asked by the students and their feedback after the event.”
Steve Turnbull, Deputy Head of Construction at TyneMet College, said:
This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to experience first-hand how a live construction site operates. Visits like this are incredibly valuable as they help learners connect the practical skills they develop in college with the reality of working in the construction industry. “For many of our Level 1 students, this was their first time on a live site, so being able to work alongside experienced professionals and see the scale and complexity of a major construction project was both inspiring and educational.
The visit forms part of the college’s commitment to providing students with meaningful industry engagement and preparing them for future careers within the construction sector.
The experience also showcases the strong links between TyneMet College and South Tyneside College, which are both part of the wider Tyne Coast College group.
For more information about TyneMet College’s construction courses, visit: Construction – Tyne Metropolitan College