Eight students from the St Edmunds Society were given a tour of Denbury Homes’ flagship development in Bury St Edmunds and met the team involved in bringing it to life.
The visit was a valuable opportunity for the trainees to learn from industry professionals and gain insights into the whole site process from land buying to bricklaying.
The visit was timed to support the students in preparing for upcoming exams which will cover topics such as architectural drawings, setting out, types of foundations, floor construction and site communications. They met members of the Denbury Homes team working in various roles including land estimator, technical co-ordinator, senior engineer and site manager. Ground contractor, DS Watson, joined in too.
The presentations and talks gave the students a taste of how their studies will translate into real life experience. Students then toured the St Edmunds Gate site, gaining additional insight into the complexities and scale of a major residential development.
Heidi Duhig, Fundraising Manager at St Edmunds Society said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students. Huge thanks to the Denbury Homes team for talking them through all the processes involved in getting a project of this scale underway.”
Founded in 1965, the St Edmunds Society (St Eds) initially focused on providing accommodation for young people experiencing homelessness. Since 2012, the registered charity has expanded its mission, establishing a vocational learning hub that offers an alternative education environment for young people who have faced challenges both in life and within traditional schooling systems.
Lee Barnard, CEO of Denbury Homes said: “Our team really enjoyed meeting the students and chatting to them about their course and their career aspirations. The enthusiasm and engagement of the students was great to see. I hope the visit has helped them understand some of the opportunities their course could lead to. We wish them all well with their exams and as they start out in their careers.”
As well as construction, St Edmunds Society supports both pre- and post-16 students, offering training courses in areas such as mechanics, catering and hospitality, health and social care, and hair and beauty. Additionally, post-16 students receive functional skills training in GCSE Maths and English, equipping them with essential qualifications for future employment.
Denbury Homes’ St Edmunds Gate development is set to deliver in the region of 900 homes for the town with the company agreeing to pay over £15.5 million in Section 106 contributions to support local infrastructure.
To find out more about St Edmunds Society and the courses available visit https://st-eds.org and for information about Denbury Homes visit https://www.denburyhomes.co.uk
