It isn’t often that members tell me they receive a positive reception from schools whenever they offer to visit and talk about working in the building industry. However, Martin Sneddon, of Martin & Son Builders in Kilwinning, contacted me last year to say he was planning a week-long visit to give an interactive talk at Whitehirst Primary School.
Martin told me he usually receives a positive welcome from local primary and secondary schools in North Ayrshire. He invited me to come along to one of his World of Work visits. Which is why I travelled west to find out how Martin and his team get a positive message across about the building industry to pupils at primary schools.
An inspiring trip
It was a pleasure for the FMB to be able to offer some support for Martin – but really the success was all down to him and his team. Yes some local merchants donated tools and PPE, but Martin’s enthusiasm and interaction with the Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils didn’t need any props.
Martin’s son got pupils to have a go at pointing, meanwhile Martin was having fun explaining how the 50 or so tools he had on display are used.
You can see some of this from the videos I took.
I also talked with Mrs Thompson of Whitehirst Primary School and it was clear that both she and fellow teachers have an open-minded attitude when it comes to welcoming local builders to talk to pupils.
If only this was the case across all schools! If any other members have positive engagement with local primary or secondary schools, I would be very keen to know. Yes, there are the 20 local employer-led regional DYW Groups but Martin and Son chose to forge ahead with inspiring the next generation of Master Builders themselves. My hard hat off to Martin who really knows how to showcase the building trades!
Authors
Gordon Nelson
Director, Federation of Master Builders Scotland
