Pupils at a Lanarkshire school were among the first to try Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) new Drones in Construction activity.
Youngsters at Uddingston Grammar were given the chance to learn about careers in construction, helping them to get a flying start in the industry.
Designed in partnership with infrastructure company Balfour Beatty, the activity is a new addition to the My World of Work Live programme, which uses interactive technology to engage young people and bring the world of work to life.
Working in small groups, pupils learned how to control and safely fly a drone, discover how they are used in the construction sector, and take part in challenges to test their new skills.
The aim of the activity is to inspire young people and help them understand the future careers they could explore in sectors which offer strong career prospects, including construction, ICT and digital, and engineering.
Cheryl Smith, Uddingston Grammar’s principal teacher of design and technology, said: “Our pupils found it very exciting to help launch the Drones in Construction activity today and, along with their fantastic new flying skills, have a new understanding of the wide variety of construction careers across Scotland.
"This type of hands-on practical learning brings fun to the classroom, and they enjoyed every minute.”
John Cairns, social impact manager at Balfour Beatty, said: “We are delighted to support SDS’ work to enhance career education for pupils.
"We’ve invested heavily in work-based learning opportunities at Balfour Beatty, with a breadth of apprenticeship opportunities available, so we know first-hand how important it is to provide career inspiration and encourage young people to consider a career in construction.”
Suitable for pupils in S2-S3, the free experience is now available for schools across Scotland to book through My World of Work.
Minister for higher and further education, youth employment and training, Jamie Hepburn, said: “Our recent review of career services across Scotland, as part of the Young Person’s Guarantee, has highlighted how important it is for young people to experience different types of careers to support their future choices.
“This is an innovative new way of engaging young people in the world of work and I would encourage other employers to follow Balfour Beatty’s example and explore how they can get involved with education.”
James Russell, SDS’s Director of CIAG Operations added: “We know experiencing the world of work at an early stage leads to better outcomes for young people.
“These career experiences not only allow for direct connections to the world of work, but exciting partnerships with industry experts such as Balfour Beatty help address and overcome outdated ideas of careers in key sectors across Scotland.”
You can find out more about careers in all Scottish sectors at My World of Work.
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