Potter Raper recently took part in a work experience day at Langley Park School for Girls, joining forces with other built environment professionals to introduce Year 8 students to the world of construction and property.
Two challenges, one big lesson in problem-solving
Students were split into groups and set two tasks. The first asked them to design and build a bridge from everyday materials, purchased from a mock builders’ merchant within a set budget, then tested for strength once complete. The second placed students in the role of property developers, choosing between four plots on a fictional island and weighing up the costs, potential returns and wider social and environmental impact of their chosen development.
Supporting the next generation
Our team, Nicola Tilbury (Director), Lea Streat (Building Surveyor and Drone Pilot) and Richard Ogunniyi (Building Surveyor and Technical Drone Pilot), worked alongside students throughout the day, offering guidance and encouragement as they worked through their budgets, sketched their plans and prepared to present their ideas to a judging panel. Days like this give students a genuine feel for the kind of thinking that goes into construction and development, from cost control through to sustainability, without needing any prior experience of the sector.
We are an Equal Opportunities Employer, and we believe the next generation is the future of our business. Supporting every individual’s career development matters to us, and days like this offer students a genuine first look at what construction and property actually involve, before they start making decisions about their future. Working with a school for girls felt particularly fitting given that commitment.
As an Employee Ownership Trust, investing in people, both our own and the wider community, is part of how we operate. Every one of us has a stake in the business, and that shapes how seriously we take opportunities to support the next generation. Getting involved with events like this is a small but meaningful part of that.
