More than 150 plumbing and electrical students at West Nottinghamshire College have put their skills to the test in a live tendering competition delivered in partnership with construction company Lindum Group.
The industry-led project challenged learners to work in teams to develop and present electrical and plumbing proposals for the college’s new construction campus currently being developed at the former Wilko store in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
Working in groups of five, students were tasked with producing a professional tender submission covering all aspects of a construction project, including design, scope, costs, health and safety, risk assessments, quality assurance, scheduling and marketing.
The competition formed part of the learners' work experience programme and provided a valuable opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to a realistic industry scenario.
Final presentations were judged by Lindum Group's social value lead, Hayley Cowell, and contracts manager, Darrel Patten, with winning teams receiving Amazon vouchers from Lindum and the college.
The winning electrical team, Sir-Cuit Electrical, comprised Mya Taljaard, 17, Isaac Quenby, 17, and Jack Gunn, 16.
Electrical team Sir-Cuit Electricals – students (from left) Mya Taljaard, Jack Gunn and Isaac Quenby – present their proposals.
Mya said: “Being involved in a live project like this gave us a real insight into what it’s like to work on a professional construction project. It went far beyond traditional classroom learning and helped us understand the roles, responsibilities and challenges involved in delivering a successful project.
“One of the biggest things I gained was confidence. Presenting our ideas and working alongside a strong team helped me overcome a lot of my worries and pushed me outside my comfort zone. We were all really focused on producing the best possible solution because we knew it reflected how we might work in industry in the future.
“It was challenging at times, but it was excellent preparation for the workplace and has given me much more confidence about pursuing a career in the industry.”
Plumbing students (from left) Sean Maphosa, Mohammad Agha Aziz, Longbo Chow and Klodian Avrami explain their tendering submission.
Andrew Stevens, the college's head of centre for building services and professional studies in construction, said: “This collaboration between the college and Lindum has provided an outstanding opportunity for our students to take part in a realistic, industry-led tendering exercise.
“It’s been fantastic to see our plumbing and electrical staff working collaboratively to deliver such an ambitious challenge, enabling learners to consolidate their knowledge through the project, developed from a live brief within the very building they will soon be studying in.
“Throughout the department, we’ve seen some exceptional examples of student work, and this final task has challenged learners not only in their vocational knowledge, but also in their communication and presentation skills, all of which they’ll carry forward into their future careers and next steps.
“It’s been a privilege to work alongside Lindum throughout this project. We would also like to recognise the invaluable contribution of Danielle Askham, our work placement engagement officer, for her support in co-ordinating and driving this opportunity forward.”
Competition judges (from left), college director of IT, estates and learning resources Gavin Peake, Lindum Group’s contracts manager Darrel Patten, construction head of centre Andrew Stevens, Lindum’s social value lead Hayley Cowell, teaching head of department for electrical Holly Smith-Wesson and work placement engagement officer Danielle Askham, deliberate the proposals.
The competition follows a series of work experience opportunities delivered through the college's partnership with Lindum, including placements linked to the construction of Ashfield District Council's Northern Depot development, where the company is building new facilities for waste collection, street cleaning, grounds maintenance and fleet management services.
Darrel Patten, who is overseeing the Northern Depot project, said: “Seeing the 55 plumbing and 102 electrical students engage with a live project brief and approach it with such professionalism, creativity and enthusiasm has been incredibly rewarding.
“The competition gave learners valuable insight into the planning, co-ordination and communication skills needed to deliver successful construction projects.
“The quality of the presentations was extremely impressive, and it was clear that the students had put a huge amount of thought into every aspect of their proposals.
“At Lindum, we’re committed to supporting the next generation of construction professionals, and initiatives like this provide a fantastic opportunity to bridge the gap between education and industry.
“We hope the experience has given the students greater confidence and a clearer understanding of the exciting career opportunities available within the sector.”
College work placement engagement officer Danielle Askham (first left) and Lindum’s contracts manager Darrel Patten (first right) present the Amazon vouchers to winning electrical team Sir-Cuit Electricals – students (centre, from left)) Mya Taljaard, Isaac Quenby and Jack Gunn.