West Nottinghamshire College welcomed more than 180 pupils from across Mansfield and Ashfield to its construction campus for an interactive Get into Construction event.

Designed to ignite interest in construction careers among 14 to 15-year-olds, the event, held at the college’s Sutton site, gave students from 17 secondary schools the opportunity to swap their classrooms for college workshops — and experience first-hand the variety of roles the sector has to offer.

Guided by the college’s teaching staff, student ambassadors, and professionals from 15 construction companies, the pupils had an action-packed day of practical activities.

These included bricklaying techniques, creating plaster moulds, fitting doors, surveying with theodolite equipment, and building structural models to test strategy and teamwork.

From operating drones and demolition robots to tackling a Lego construction challenge and scaling heights in a cherry picker, provided by JC McCann, students were immersed in the cutting-edge tools and techniques used in today’s modern construction industry.

Professionals from well-known companies such as Balfour Beatty, Bowmer and Kirkland, GF Tomlinson, Lindum Group, and Clegg Group attended.

Among the schools involved were Selston High School, Meden School in Warsop, and Mansfield’s All Saints’ Catholic Voluntary Academy, Queen Elizabeth’s Academy, and The Brunts Academy.

The college’s head of construction and building services projects, Andy Whyley, said: “We were thrilled to welcome so many enthusiastic young people to our campus. The construction industry is evolving rapidly, and this event was about showing students just how diverse and exciting a career in construction can be.

“Whether it’s traditional trades or emerging digital technologies, there’s a place for everyone in this sector.”