For for the first time ever we’ve held our own speed networking event at Launchpad 135, our work and life skills centre.
Five of our clients spent time with staff members from the UK’s largest privately owned construction company Bowmer + Kirkland who are working at the site of the new Reading Academy School which is due to open in September 2023 and not far from our centre on Cardiff Road.
Alina from the company got in touch to see how they could help Launchpad, and together with Sian from 135 they came up with speed networking event to help our clients find out about the different kind of jobs you could do within the construction industry.
“When people think of construction, they often think of just builders and maybe architects, but there are so many diverse jobs available in within the industry,” said Alina who is Bowmer + Kirkland’s social value co-ordinator.
“From working in HR or accounts in the office, to security on site and structural engineering, there is so much more to the industry.”
Staff from the company who visited 135 included a document controller from the administration team, a quantity surveyor, site manager, security guard and two from Fenton Engineering.
Clients were given a short time with each volunteer member of staff from Bowmer + Kirkland and used prepared prompt questions for each of them to help if they didn’t know what to ask.
Alina said: “I could hear some great conversations going on and everyone got a chance to speak and listen. Many of the clients had their own questions which was brilliant as it goes to show the level of interest.”
Four of the five 135 clients at the speed networking event now want to visit the nearby site of the Reading Academy which is being arranged.
“I had no idea about the kind of jobs that exist in the construction industry,” said one client. “It was a brilliant morning and really opened my eyes to what is out there.”
Alina and the team at 135 are now working together to try to bring the CSCS qualification to 135 and Sian hopes there will be other opportunities to work not only with Bowmer + Kirkland, but other companies in the area.