A Cumbrian building contractor has been giving local school children a taste of what it’s like to work for the company.

Story Contracting is working with Beacon Hill Community School, in Aspatria, and Carlisle’s Trinity School to showcase the variety of jobs within the business. The work is also designed to prepare pupils for the type of day-to-day activities they may undertake at the company.

The work has taken place ahead of Story Contracting launching its graduate and apprenticeship schemes in the New Year.

At Beacon Hill a group of 29 Year Nine pupils took part in an industry project run by Story, which formed part of the students’ new curriculum ‘LLMAC’ – Local Labour Market Aligned Curriculum.

The students followed the GRIP (Guide to Rail Improvement Process) process used by Story Contracting’s rail division to write a problem statement regarding Aspatria’s railway station and SWOT analysis to determine the best new site for the facility.

After the six-week project period ended, the students presented the conclusions of their project to Story staff.

Danny Gee, deputy head at Beacon Hill Community School and lead on the LLMAC project, said: "Story Contracting offered our students a fantastic industry project in which they demonstrated excellent progress facilitated by outstanding delivery. Set in a real context familiar to all students, Story Contracting engaged and supported them throughout a tough but enjoyable programme, culminating in an ‘Apprentice’ style pitch to the management team at the Burgh Road office in Carlisle.

“The students thoroughly enjoyed the whole programme which was expertly delivered throughout."

The company also recently welcomed a group of six Year 11 students from Trinity School to its head office, where the students were introduced to the company’s existing Year One and Year Two apprentices and trainees.

The students were given the opportunity to ask the apprentices and trainees about their roles and were given an insight into what it might be like to join the local business as part of the scheme.

George McMullen, Year 11 pastoral tutor at Trinity School, said: “We would like to thank the staff at Story Contracting for accommodating Trinity School.

“I personally enjoyed myself immensely and was impressed at the direction in which Story Contracting is going.

“Our students found the session extremely useful – they were a little shy to begin with but it certainly helped having the current apprentices there."

“Our students didn’t stop talking and asking questions on the way back to school and the workshop clearly gave an initial insight into the next step for many.”

Craig Hamilton, technical training manager at Story Contracting, said: “I am delighted that Story Contracting has been able to support both Beacon Hill School and Trinity School recently on the LLMAC programme and on the workshop session for future apprentices and trainees, respectively.

“At Story Contracting we are committed to nurturing future talent and encouraging local students to consider a career within our business.

“We have no doubt that these experiences will stand the pupils in good stead in the years to come.”