Northern Ireland construction company Henry Brothers has stepped up its efforts to welcome young people into the industry by taking part in the 'Adopt a School' programme.

Led by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB NI), this programme gives young people from across Northern Ireland the chance to gain a deeper understanding of a career in construction while also educating them on benefits and opportunities that arise from such a career path.

As part of its participation in the scheme, the contractor recently hosted Magherafelt High School for a job sampling day, which involved the young people trying plastering, bricklaying, joinery, tiling, and more.

CSR Director, Ian Henry said: "At Henry Brothers, we believe in helping young people realise their full potential and are keen to give them the skills and experience needed to do so.

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"Choosing a career path without fully understanding the industry can be daunting, but days such as this give a great insight into life after school and can often inspire children to consider a career in construction.

"This is especially important on our journey to create a more diverse industry, and as more people are exposed to the wealth of opportunities available to them we hope to create a shift in the perceptions of what a construction worker should look like."

Speaking at the 'Adopt a School' event, Barry Neilson, Chief Executive CITB NI, added: "We are delighted to continue with our 'Adopt a School' scheme and delighted to attend the careers talk at Magherafelt High School and Henry Brothers.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for construction employers to engage with and encourage the next generation of young people to consider a career in construction. It is also a fantastic opportunity for schools to benefit from a whole range of career activities as well as having a direct contact with those working within the industry.

"We hope the initiative will create more partnerships which will help to recruit, retain and develop the talent required to sustain the industry in the years ahead."

Mrs McGinnis, Head of Careers and Head of Technology Magherafelt High School commented: "The 'Adopt A School' Job Sampling Event at Henry Brothers is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to try hands on tasks for various career pathways while also gaining a practical insight into the opportunities that could be available to them in the future."