EKC Sheppey College students visit Beachfields construction site

Students on the Isle of Sheppey learnt about construction first-hand while visiting the Sheerness Revival construction sites.

EKC Sheppey College’s construction students took a tour of the Beachfields site last week to learn construction techniques from experienced site managers and witness the concrete foundations being poured.

These works form part of Swale Borough Council’s ambitious £20 million government-funded project, which aims to boost the leisure, education, employment and health facilities in Sheerness.

The students were able to take a tour of the healthy living centre as the builders work towards expanding the centre, upgrading the GP surgery, installing new leisure facilities – including Tag Active, and adventure play – upgrading the gym facilities and creating a custom-made space for charity Sheppey Matters.

Earlier this year, the students were able to leave a lasting mark on the project when they were invited onto the EKC Sheppey College site to help lay the first bricks of the exciting expansion, which is a key element of the regeneration project.

The new building will offer an additional 900 square meters of educational space for learners to explore a wider range of courses that have been aligned with local employers’ skills needs.

From the start of the new year, the new building will house specialist programmes including Level 2 Engineering, as well as Level 2 and Level 3 Creative Media courses.

There is also a brand-new junior college provision for students aged 14-16 within the existing college, which welcomed its first cohort of students this academic year.

The final element of the project is the creation of makers huts at the rear of Masters House, where young creatives and makers can kickstart their businesses with the support of enterprise charity Launch It.

Cllr Monique Bonney, chair of the council’s Economy and Property Committee, said: “Sheerness Revival is really picking up steam now with the college extension and the workshop spaces at Masters House, nearing completion.

“We were keen to make sure local students have been able to get involved in the projects. They’ve been able to benefit from working with professionals on site and get hands-on experience to help them launch their careers.

“This project isn’t just about education and skills. These young people, and everyone in the town and beyond, will also benefit from improved health services, better leisure opportunities and increased employment.

“In years to come, I hope they feel a real sense of involvement in the scheme and proudly tell people about the part they played in breathing new life into their community.”

Principal of EKC Sheppey College, Alexandra Syrotiuk, added: “This has been a brilliant opportunity for our students to tour a working construction site.

“At EKC Group, we believe it is really important to equip our students with real-world industry knowledge so that they can put their best foot forward once they have completed their qualification with us and enter their chosen industry.

“The visit has allowed our students to gain a deeper understanding of how a construction site works.

“Huge thanks to Swale Borough Council for welcoming our students to the Beachfields site.”