Inspiring the Industry’s Next Generation

Building on our commitment to inspire the industry’s next generation, we’re delighted to announce that we have “adopted” Ashton on Mersey School under the ‘Class Of your Own’ (COYO) programme. For the next three years, we will support COYO’s ‘Design Engineer Construct!’ initiative which helps young people “discover unique pathways into architecture, engineering and construction careers”.

Together with the School, we have established an after-school architecture club and will be delivering the COYO “A Home for Everyone” DEC Award to help introduce the students to architecture and the wider construction industry.

We are utilising our Sale West masterplanning project which is near to the school, as a case study and training aid. We have recently given students a walking tour of the estate, which is undergoing a phased regeneration designed by AEW for Irwell Valley Homes, to explain the scheme and allow students to select a site for their housing project. Students then met with the main contractor, Seddon Construction, who showed the students the houses that were nearing completion and explained the benefits of working on site and potential career paths.

As the school year progresses, we plan to host a series of sessions with the students ranging from inclusive design to interior design which will help them develop their housing proposals. This will be complemented by practical skills such as digital and physical modelling to help them communicate their final work.

The adoption is the latest in a series of support with have provided to COYO. We have previously hosted two of their students as Trainee Architectural Technicians, both of whom have now progressed to completing a Degree Apprenticeship in Architectural Technology whilst also working at AEW. We have also recently supported their contribution to the ‘My Climate Path’ COP 26 education legacy initiative for students in the Glasgow city region – guiding them to design a Net Zero Restaurant for long-standing AEW client McDonald’s.

We look forward to continuing with our partnership in the coming years and to working closely with COYO and the teachers and students at Ashton on Mersey School.