City College Norwich Construction Students Present Ideas for new Student Residences

Members of the project team from UEA, R G Carter and LSI Architects, currently working on the UEA’s latest student residences, the Blackdale development, recently visited City College Norwich to hear students present their ideas for a student residence building in Norwich.

Students from the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment at City College Norwich presented their projects to a panel of experienced members of the construction industry from the three organisations in a ‘dragons den’ style competition.

The project, which was set by LSI Architects in September and forms part of the course, gave students practical experience of what a real construction project is like – providing the opportunity to learn valuable skills that will help to bridge their step from education into the workplace and tackle the construction industry skills shortage.

Students were able to undertake aspects of a construction project such as design and specification, project planning, surveying a site, reviewing the process for submitting planning applications, interrogating a brief and exploring sustainable design and construction solutions.

On the panel were Martin Lovatt, Senior Estates Project Manager at the University of East Anglia, Grant Keys, Director and General Manager at R G Carter and Rupert Kitchen, Partner at LSI Architects. Rupert Kitchen commented, “For these students in particular there are very few approved apprenticeship schemes and as employers we take responsibility for enabling students with aspirations to work within the architecture and design industries to develop the skills they need to succeed. The need for good presentation skills is common to many roles within Construction and the students all gained confidence in this aspect. It has been a great pleasure for us to see the students present their ideas and believe the experience they have gained will stand them in good stead when they are ready to seek employment.”

Two students, Matthew Hayes and Conner Fitzsimmons, received an award for the best presentations and will each now undertake work experience with both LSI Architects and R G Carter.