Scotland' Housing Expo

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell visited the site of Scotland’s Housing Expo in Inverness after meeting with local schoolchildren who have been learning about its significance for Scotland’s construction industry as part of their Skills for Work course.

Millburn Academy is one of three local schools in the Highlands that have created Skills for Work partnerships with contractors developing Scotland’s Housing Expo. The construction companies are using the development phase of the Expo as a learning tool, to help pupils to gain an insight into the construction industry and different careers within it. The two year scheme, which primarily involves third year pupils, is a combination of classroom lessons and site visits at Balvonie Braes and leads to an SQA qualification.

Despite the recent inclement winter weather, progress on the site is advancing rapidly and the Scotland’s Housing Expo will be open to the public throughout August 2010. The Expo will provide a vision for the next generation of Scottish housing. The cutting-edge sustainable houses will showcase the best of the country’s architecture and design, placing Scotland firmly at the forefront of European housing design.

Morrison Construction is mentoring 12 pupils from Millburn Academy on the Skills for Work programme. Having constructed its new school building last year, Morrison Construction already has a strong connection with the school. Other partnerships include include ROK with Culloden Academy and William Gray with Fortrose Academy.

Gordon Williamson of Morrison Construction said, “The pupils are really enjoying the programme, as they are gaining skills both academically and practically.

\"We are also taking the opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of the construction industry, in particular opening young people\'s eyes to career opportunities and the role that contractors are playing to promote sustainable living.”

The Education Secretary said: “This is an exciting collaboration with real economic potential for the Inverness economy. The work which contractors are undertaking with the three Highland schools is a positive example of how we can motivate and encourage young people into rewarding careers in the future. The pupils I met at Millburn Academy were enthusiastic about the skills they were developing at schools and understood how that learning, with future training, could help them secure a job within the construction industry. It is excellent to see industry working with schools to the benefit of local communities, our workforce and the wider economy.”

Councillor Jean Urquhart, chair of the Housing Expo board said: “Having such a pioneering development on our doorstep has provided a unique learning opportunity for local school pupils interested in a career in construction. We are delighted so many pupils are taking up the Skills for Work course and are confident it will help create some of Scotland’s future stars in the construction industry.”

For further information visit www.scotlandshousingexpo.com