Specialist Contractor Cawarden showcased its work currently being undertaken on Agard Street in Derby by hosting a site visit for 30 final-year Civil Engineering students and apprentices from the University of Derby.
The students were hosted by Principal Contractor Cawarden – who is delivering the proof digging and earthworks on the Agard Street site on behalf of its client.
Cawarden completed the demolition of the former student flats on the site last year and has been awarded a follow-on scheme to prepare the site for future redevelopment.
As part of their final year studies, the students have been tasked to propose and design a theoretical residential and commercial tower block for the site, so the visit provided the opportunity to look at site constraints, obstructions, access, utilities and ground conditions – all useful things to consider as part of feasibility studies.
The students were able to see the full extent of the site with a guided tour led by the Cawarden team. They were shown a number of areas which are under construction and were able to stop and observe key points including a large area which is still to be backfilled and levelled.
From the questions raised by the students and staff during the visit, it is evident that the University of Derby is continuing to generate competent next-generation engineers.
Mitch Townsend, Civils & Groundworks Manager at Cawarden, said: “We welcomed the opportunity to host the students to our project on Agard Street in Derby city centre. As a student, it’s invaluable to see first-hand work being undertaken on a site like this. We are all for encouraging new people into the industry and wish the students all the best with the project. We look forward to seeing their proposals!”
Simon Wood, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Derby, said: “The opportunity to be shown around the site by industrial professionals was invaluable for our final-year Civil Engineering students completing their structural design project.
“The experience for the students to work on a live project allows them to develop and enhance skills vital for entering the graduate market, as well as highlighting roles they could soon be entering. The students’ final presentation to industrial experts will encompass all their knowledge and empower them to interact within an environment they wish to engage with in the future.”
