Every day a school day as GRAHAM join a virtual Apprenticeship & Further Education session at Birkenhead college

GRAHAM has taken a unique approach to engaging students within the industry during COVID-19 restrictions by joining a unique virtual Apprenticeships & Further Education Information session at a college in Birkenhead.

GRAHAM’s Social Impact Business Partner Patsy Murphy attended the virtual session at St Anselm College in July as part of the firm’s work at the Liverpool City Connectivity Phases 1 and 2.

The second phase of the project will see GRAHAM build two new roads off Waterloo Road and Regent Road to the north west of the city centre, to address current and anticipated future congestion in the area, and improve accessibility to the waterfront area with its re-positioned and improved Isle of Man Ferry Terminal.

Patsy attended the virtual session, held via Microsoft Teams, and spoke to pupils from Years 12 and 13, engaging them on the career options available in construction and civil engineering disciplines.

She also provided advice and guidance on apprenticeship and further education information for school leavers.

Discussing the sessions, Patsy said:

“Social Value is very much on the agenda for Liverpool City Council when construction projects are awarded in the city, ensuring they deliver new opportunities for their residents wherever possible.

“At GRAHAM we also strive to engage the local communities we work with to provide opportunities for employment and education on all of our projects.

“Currently, due to COVID-19 restrictions, virtual sessions are the ‘new normal’ for student engagement and at GRAHAM we have been keen to embrace technology to deliver value-adding advice and information for students and potential apprentices.

Patsy added:

“I’ve been involved in social value in Liverpool for GRAHAM since 2017 when The Great Howard Bridge Project commenced. The students at St Anselm College responded really well to the sessions and we’re keen to explore further sessions at other schools and colleges as part of the initiative.”

Kim Dickson, from Career Connect, Careers Adviser at St Anselm’s College, said:

“It was a great opportunity for GRAHAM to be involved in the virtual apprenticeship evening as it gave the students and parents at St Anselm’s College an insight into the different levels of apprenticeships and roles the company offers.

“The students valued the different apprenticeships as an alternative varied learning experience combining studying for foundation or honours degree whilst working towards a career in construction.”

The Liverpool City Centre Connectivity scheme is one of the flagship highways projects in the City Council’s wider £500m ‘Better Roads programme’, which also includes a £100m programme to upgrade the city’s North Liverpool corridor with the creation of two new waterfront link roads to support the Council’s proposed new Cruise Liner Terminal and a new Isle of Man Ferry Terminal at Peel Land and Property’s £5bn Liverpool Waters scheme.