On Thursday 4 February, construction specialist ISG presented the second phase of Richmond upon Thames College’s (RuTC) redevelopment to 50 of its students and highlighted the various careers available in the construction industry.
In March 2020, the majority of RuTC students moved into the iconic Richmond building on the existing Twickenham site which was phase one of the project. For this, ISG Project Director Richard White took home Silver in the Higher Education category in the Construction Manager of the Year Awards as recognition of successfully mastering “the Herculean challenge of this five-storey campus block”.
Phase two will see the construction of a brand new STEM Centre for Science, IT, Engineering and Construction students and is due for completion in Summer 2022. In order to give the STEM students details about their new learning environment, ISG hosted an informative virtual event which focussed on the construction of the STEM Centre and its final look. For this, videos and further AI methods were shown to the students, which are also used by the company to keep clients updated on the build. ISG highlighted how construction work has continued during the pandemic, showing the importance of virtual tours, technology and ISG’s very own health and safety app.
The presentation also showcased the partnership that exists between ISG and RuTC, highlighting the work placements opportunities offered previously. In addition, Catering students provided lunch to ISG staff and Supported Learning and Construction students have collaborated to install planters around the site. Karen Vigar, Education Engagement Manager at ISG, discussed the further opportunities available for current and future students, for example apprenticeships and work experience. Tania Jacobs, Senior Social Value Manager and a former RuTC student, highlighted how ISG’s social value is about legacy and long-term outcomes, such as training, employment and work experience with the strategy to engage the local community and she is looking forward to coming back and revisiting the site.
Richard White, Project Director at ISG, said, “Our partnership with Richmond upon Thames College extends far beyond the delivery of an outstanding new state-of-the-art campus, to encompass direct apprenticeships, job creation and learning opportunities for the students. Maximising social value benefits for the local community and Richmond Borough residents, ISG and RuTC are delivering something truly transformational, not just for the college, but the surrounding area.”
Sheila Fraser Whyte, Executive Director for Business Development and Innovation at RuTC, said, “This event with ISG was the first of many. Students and key stakeholders were given a great opportunity to have a look behind the scenes of their new STEM Centre, seeing every step from the start of the construction project to the finished building. I want to thank ISG for giving our students a virtual tour of their new learning environment and the opportunities and careers within the industry. There has never been a more important time to showcase a positive future for young people and the journey that we are on to create a building for their dreams and aspirations.”
Have a look below to explore the construction of our new STEM Centre.
