More than 80 pupils from four schools in Antrim and Newtownabbey took part in a one-day Construction Bootcamp at CITB NI's Nutts Corner Training Centre on Tuesday 20 October. The event was delivered through a new partnership between Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council's Labour Market Partnership and the Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI).

As the first bootcamp of its kind under the collaboration, the initiative set out to highlight the breadth of careers available across Northern Ireland's construction sector and the pathways into them.

Labour Market Partnerships are funded by the Department for Communities (DfC) to create targeted employment action plans for council areas, enabling collaboration at local and regional levels to support people towards and into work.

Pupils from Parkhall Integrated College, Ballyclare Secondary School, St Benedict's College, Randalstown, and Edmund Rice College, Glengormley attended the session.

The Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey met participants and representatives from CITB NI and the Council to discuss the programme and its benefits for young people. Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Alison Bennington, said: "It is great to see young people from across the Borough getting hands-on experience and learning about the many career opportunities available within construction. We are delighted to support this initiative with CITB NI and help our young people explore the skills and pathways available to them." Across the day, students explored different roles within the sector, the skills required and the routes into employment. They also took part in job sampling sessions covering bricklaying, joinery, painting and decorating, and tiling.

The programme outlined multiple entry routes for young people, from apprenticeships and on-the-job training through to further and higher education. Students learned about the important role apprenticeships play in developing skills while allowing participants to gain recognised qualifications and valuable workplace experience.

Barry Neilson OBE, Chief Executive of CITB NI, said: "We were delighted to work in partnership with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to provide local pupils with an opportunity to experience construction first-hand. The Construction Bootcamp enabled local students to try practical activities, learn about the many career opportunities available and gain a better understanding of the pathways into the industry. Initiatives such as this are important in inspiring the next generation and helping young people recognise the rewarding careers that construction can offer."

The Construction Bootcamp forms part of wider work by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and CITB NI to promote skills development and raise awareness of opportunities within the local economy. With construction among Northern Ireland's largest industries, there are roles to suit a wide range of interests and abilities, from specialist trades and technical posts to professional and management careers.

For the pupils involved, the event offered valuable practical experience and a chance to consider how their own skills and interests could translate into a future career in the industry.