Students get exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Maghera Public Realm Scheme

As part of Build UK and coordinated by Construction Futures NI, CivCo were delighted to welcome students and academic staff for exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the Maghera Public Realm Environmental Improvement Scheme.

The event, held between March 17 and 21, was part of Open Doors Week and gave participants a unique opportunity to explore the fantastic career opportunities the construction industry has to offer. Participants experienced firsthand the work, planning and organisation required to manage a complex public realm project while ensuring the town centre remains open and accessible.

Students from Queen’s University, North West Regional College and Bangor Grammar attended the exclusive tours, benefitting from the unique opportunity to see a live construction site in action. They also had the chance to try out specialist site surveying equipment, including a GPS and Total Station, giving them practical insight into modern construction technology.

When asked what their favourite part of the experience was, one student said, “The tour of the site and the CAT Scanner. It was a good day out of the workshop to see real-life work situations.”

Paul McFlynn, Director at CivCo, commented: “We were delighted to participate in Open Doors Week and showcase the Maghera Public Realm Scheme to inspire future construction workers and engineers. This is a great opportunity to see how major works are planned, scheduled and managed while keeping the town open to the public.”

"Thank you to Construction Futures NI and Open Doors, as well as all the students and staff who visited us this week."

Jenni Marshall from Construction Futures NI added: "Open Doors is a longstanding initiative from Build UK, which has successfully been running in England for the past decade. This year, Construction Futures are proud to have partnered with them to introduce the program to Northern Ireland for the first time. We are delighted with the overwhelming response from both industry professionals and educational institutions, with over 500 visitors engaging in our inaugural year. The success of this initiative would not have been possible without the invaluable support of companies like CivCo, who generously donated their time and expertise to inspire the next generation of talent in our industry."