A year after London property developer Anthology teamed up with the local College of North West London, their commitment to encouraging the future of the construction industry continues. On this occasion the group of students studying the City and Guilds Construction Opportunities 16/18s course donned personal protective equipment in the shape of hard hats, gloves, boots, hi-vis vests and protective goggles and went along to the Wembley Parade site for a tour followed by an informative Q & A session with the contractors.
Accompanied by their tutors, Stephen Lockwood and Sheila Fadden, the students met Anthology’s Wembley Parade Project Manager, Victor De Bie to be shown around the development. The hour long tour took the students into the show homes and to view the tower. After the tour, the students, who are studying a range of different ‘specialisms’ such as plumbing, electrical, painting and decorating, plastering and joinery, had the valuable opportunity to talk to the contractors in the Q & A session about each of their specific skills.
Victor commented: “We had a great time visiting the college last year and talking to some of the Construction students but nothing beats a site visit to give them an idea of what is involved from a practical perspective, to see for themselves the latest trends and practices in the industry and the huge number of issues to consider on a live construction site from Health and Safety to getting the right paint colour. These are very complex environments and we hope that we were able to answer their questions and leave them with an enthusiasm for the industry. It was a beneficial session for both parties and it was very encouraging to hear the questions that the students had and great to provide the information and insight they need at this early stage of their career.”
Sheila Fadden, who accompanied the 17 students, commented: “We are very appreciative of these kinds of opportunities for the students to gain an insight into what working on a live construction site involves. Many of the students will pass the site on their way to college. The chance to ask questions of the contractors in their chosen specialism and get some first-hand advice on the many career paths that are open to them as they draw closer to the end of their courses is so important. The property sector is forever changing and developing which isn’t always easy to reflect in the classroom. The visit will have given them a lot of really helpful food for thought and we’d all like to thank Anthology and their contractors for giving up their time on the day.”
As part of Victor’s introduction to the visit, the students heard about the approach that Anthology takes to property development, and the ways in which this differs to its competitors, as well as about how this approach is put into practice at Wembley Parade.
This recent link up with the College of North West London comes as part of Anthology’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities where it is building. Anthology is similarly committed to encouraging the future talent of the industry and has pledged time to engaging and working with schools and colleges close to its other developments across the capital.
For those interested in moving to the Wembley area, Anthology has a collection of homes available priced from £399,000. Call 020 3320 8220 or register your interest to be the first to receive updates.