Local students explore construction careers firsthand at live Knowsley site

Students from Huyton’s Alt Bridge School received a hands-on introduction to the construction industry this week during a visit to a live project in Kirkby.

Delivered by local firm Sterling Services (Northern) Ltd and commissioned by Knowsley Council, the scheme is currently transforming the ground floor of the Kirkby Centre into a brand-new post-16 facility for Alt Bridge School, providing a dedicated educational environment for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

As part of the initiative, SEND students were invited directly onto the site for a trade taster day, allowing them to feel connected to the project and actively contribute to its progress. The event allowed the young people to step away from their traditional classrooms and experience an active building site firsthand, trying out practical skills such as joinery, plastering, and electrical work.

Instead of simply learning about these career paths in theory, the students worked alongside industry professionals and used real equipment to gain a true sense of the sector’s day-to-day operations. Reflecting on the experience, one student said he would “remember the day for the rest of his life.”

Paul Blennerhassett, Group Chairman of Sterling Services (Northern) Ltd, said:

“It was an absolute pleasure to see the children enjoying the practical hands-on workshops yesterday. We take enormous pride in being a Knowsley-based business, and that means we feel a genuine responsibility to invest in the people and communities around us. Seeing these young people on site yesterday, trying their hand at real trades, working alongside our supply chain partners and visibly lighting up, was one of the most rewarding days of this project.

“We hope it plants a seed for some of them, and here at Sterling Services, we are committed to continuing this engagement with Alt Bridge School as the project progresses. This is exactly the kind of work that reminds us construction isn’t just about buildings, it’s about what those buildings will be used for and the futures we help to build.”

Helen Paton, Social Value Manager for Grow CIC, said:

“Our work is some designing social value that matters, delivering it well, and proving the difference it makes. This project is a powerful example of how structured, measurable social value can open doors for young people who deserve every opportunity to thrive.”

The taster day is part of a broader Schools Engagement Programme run by Sterling, which aims to provide students with early exposure to the construction sector, helping them make better-informed choices regarding future apprenticeships, higher education, and careers.

By collaborating directly with Alt Bridge School as the project’s Principal Contractor, Sterling Services (Northern) Ltd is establishing a long-term partnership that extends far beyond a single event, fostering continuous engagement, skills progression, and local community investment.

Orla McDaid, a teacher at Alt Bridge School, was delighted with the impact this has made on her students.

She explained:

“This has been amazing. The kids are just so happy doing practical lessons and hopefully it’ll help them figure out what they want to do after school. The students have had a go at plumbing, electrics, joinery and plastering.

“We think it’ll open a pathway for some of our students into the world of construction because many of our students wouldn’t have known this is an option for them. Some of them are really enjoying it and we’ve actually got one student who’s thriving and now wants to be an engineer.”

The event’s success was further bolstered by three of Sterling’s supply chain partners: Spectrum Drylining Limited, Stewart Construction (Northern) Ltd, and Zenit Electrical Ltd. With two of these companies based in Knowsley and one located just across the border in Liverpool, all three generously contributed their time, knowledge, and materials to facilitate the practical sessions.

Their involvement was vital to delivering a meaningful experience for the pupils, demonstrating a collective supply-chain commitment to supporting local youth.

This initiative also highlights a wider industry shift toward modern social value delivery, moving past conventional metrics to prioritise authentic, tangible community benefits. Through these interactive experiences, students build practical capabilities, boost their confidence, network with industry professionals, and uncover career possibilities that may have previously seemed out of reach.

The engagement program is set to run alongside the build, offering further opportunities for students to connect with the project as construction moves forward.

Find out more about the construction course at Knowsley College here.

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