The ongoing Belfast Transport Hub project has been the subject of a recent virtual work experience day.

GRAHAM's Belfast Transport Hub (BTH) Enabling Works team led the interactive session for 55 secondary school pupils from across the UK in partnership with Speakers for School, a charity founded by well-known broadcaster, Robert Peston.

The BTH Enabling Works project involves the delivery of essential engineering work to clear the Hub site in preparation for the main build - a multi-million, transformational scheme that will regenerate an eight-hectare city centre site into a modern, high quality integrated transport hub.

Members of the GRAHAM BTH Enabling Works project team were joined by experts in Environmental, Digital Construction and Social Impact to pass on their experiences of civil engineering, and to discuss the various roles and rewarding careers the construction industry has to offer.

The students also enjoyed a virtual tour of the BTH site, led by GRAHAM Site Agent, Ryan Hill, who explained the realities of working on a live engineering project.

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The implementation of emerging technologies, the responsibility of contractors to make a meaningful contribution in tackling climate change, and practical advice on writing CVs and interview techniques were further topics of the informative day.

GRAHAM BTH Enabling Works Project Manager, Eunan O'Kane said: "Civil engineering offers a wide range of opportunities and it is an industry which welcomes individuals with a broad range of skills, interests and talents. This full day event presented us with the opportunity to give students an insight into key onsite roles and also into the different departments that play a major part in ensuring the success of a complex civil engineering project like the Belfast Transport Hub. The students were very engaged throughout and it was a pleasure for GRAHAM to be involved in this interactive day."

Commenting on how GRAHAM is committed to the Buy Social approach and helping to maximise the social value delivered through public contracts, GRAHAM Social Impact Business Partner, Attracta Mathews, added: "In Northern Ireland, the Buy Social model provides an entry point for students and graduates to start a career in construction. This virtual platform was an excellent forum to showcase how the Belfast Transport Hub Enabling Works project has supported Buy Social opportunities for these students and graduates, who in turn are supported to grow and develop through our own GRAHAM Academy. Our Academy students and graduates are in a unique position to inform, encourage and inspire other young people to follow in their footsteps."

This was the third virtual work experience event hosted by GRAHAM in collaboration with Speakers for Schools.