Barnfield wow Blackburn College students

Date: 02.12.2009

Eleven students from the Construction Department at Blackburn College have been welcomed onto one of the largest industrial building sites in Lancashire.

Barnfield Construction Limited are the main contractors on the development of a new 67,000 sq ft cash and carry warehouse for Khanjra Foods in Blackburn. The students who are training on the Modern Apprentice Scheme at Blackburn College were inducted and shown around the vast site.

The apprentices, who are all studying their Level 1 Diplomas in Brickwork, were given an insight into the high calibre of work they will be expected to complete once they have gained their qualification.

When visiting the site to carry out assessments on modern apprentices, Barrie Williams Brickwork Lecturer and Assessor approached site manager Martin Riley from Barnfield and asked if the whole class could carry out a field trip after seeing what was being developed.

Barrie commented "The issue we have with Modern Apprenticeships is that 75% of the class don't have any site experience yet. This is why we are pleased that Barnfield Construction are employing students and supporting them in gaining valuable qualifications through the local Colleges."

Other developers in the area are being urged to take advantage of the experience available through Blackburn College and perhaps looking at what employees are available there as an added option to the other recruitment services also available.

Barnfield Construction are presently working on 22 live sites including the new build and renovation of 2 Biffa recycling plants totalling 270,000 sq ft, a 100,000 sq ft warehouse to accommodate Blackpool Illuminations, Local Regeneration Housing Projects across East Lancashire, the refurbishment of Princess Foods Offices in Leeds and are also active on six speculative residential sites in the local area.

Charlotte Rice, Marketing Manager at Barnfield commented "We are always happy to welcome local students who are interested in our work onto our sites where practical."