BAA and local Education Business Partnerships are delivering a programme of fun events at local Heathrow area schools to give two thousand children a chance to learn new skills while constructing their own terminal. Primary school students worked with volunteers to design and build the structure, using ‘Stixx’ construction rods made from recycled newspapers. The programme has been funded with a £10,500 investment by BAA.
Participants were encouraged to work together in teams to complete a range of practical tasks, from making the ‘Stixx’ construction rods themselves to planning, communication and problem solving. The event will be repeated over the coming weeks at a number of local primary schools, with pupils from the boroughs of Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Spelthorne and Slough taking part.
The project is being delivered by education consultant Jeremy King with the assistance of 18 volunteers from BAA and associated construction companies Morgan Est, Taylor Woodrow, Costain, Balfour Beatty and Mansell.
Matt White, BAA Surface Access Programme Manager and a volunteer at Beavers Community Primary School said “This event was a fun day for all involved and a great chance for Heathrow area students to learn about teamwork, communications skills and working to a deadline whilst designing a new building. The hard work the students put in on the day was fantastic and the final designs submitted were a testament to their cooperation."
Craig Hutchison from Ealing Education Business Partnership said, “This project is providing a fantastic opportunity for primary schools to work with construction industry professionals on an exciting engineering activity. Over 2000 primary school students will benefit from this project, working with Heathrow facilitators to experience what it might be like to work in the construction industry.
Furthermore they will have the opportunity to develop important communication, problem solving and team building skills in a fun environment.”
The sponsorship of the programme forms part of Heathrow Airport’s local labour strategy, in which BAA invests £300,000 each year to support schemes to develop employment, training, skills and career opportunities in the five boroughs surrounding the airport.
Joe Hardman, BAA said, “Over 72,000 staff work at Heathrow, with almost half living in the boroughs closest to the airport. BAA always needs skilled construction workers and we are committed to helping young people to develop careers in the construction industry by supporting events and programmes such as this.”
Notes to editors
About jobs at Heathrow
1 in 10 people in employment in Hounslow work at Heathrow Airport 1 in 27 people in employment in Ealing work at Heathrow Airport 1 in 15 people in employment in Hillingdon work at Heathrow Airport 1 in 20 people in employment in Slough work at Heathrow Airport 1 in 9 people in employment in Spelthorne work at Heathrow Airport BAA Heathrow employs over 4000 staff.
Total employment at Heathrow is over 72,000 staff Heathrow Airport sustains approximately 170,000 jobs across the UK.
Primary schools involved in this programme include
- Ealing: Derwentwater, St.Joseph’s RC, Lady Margaret, Downe Manor, Viking, Beaconsfield, Blair Peach, St.Anselm’s, Hambrough
- Hillingdon: Hedgewood, Bourne, Deanesfield, Whitehall Junior, The Willows, Harmondsworth, Wood End
- Hounslow: Wellington, Springwell Junior, Beavers Community, Isleworth Town, Hounslow Town, Cedars, St.Mary’s, Sparrow Farm Junior
- Slough: Colnbrook, Ryvers, St.Anthony’s, St.Ethelbert’s, Parlaunt, Holy Family, St.Mary’s
- Spelthorne: Godolphin Junior, Hythe, Spelthorne Junior, St.Ignatius, Saxon, Clarendon
