On Tuesday 23 June, a group of ten Years 11, 12 & 13 students attended this event, set up by Isaac Construction, to give female high school students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, hear from inspirational women, and learn about career opportunities in infrastructure. Here is one student’s experience of the day.
“We started the day at Harewood Golf Club, where we heard from women working at Isaac Construction and Connexis about their careers in the civil construction industry. They shared their experiences, the different roles available, and what it is like to work in the sector. After the presentations, we travelled to Isaac Construction’s main quarry. Our group began in the laboratory, where we learnt how aggregate and asphalt are tested to ensure they meet quality standards. We were also shown how ground compaction is measured using a Clegg Impact Soil Tester (Clegg), and we got to see an asphalt paver, the machine used to lay asphalt on roads.
Next, we took part in a traffic management time trial. We learnt how Site Traffic Management Supervisors (STMS) set up road signs and safe alternative pathways before competing to set up and pack down the traffic management equipment as quickly as possible. The Kaiapoi 2 team (Alyssa, Ruby C, Ruby S, Maddison, and Sophie) achieved the fastest time of the day, beating the previous record of 49 seconds with an impressive 44.5 seconds.
A generous barbecue lunch of bacon, burgers, and sausages was provided before we moved on to the digger activity. We were taught how to operate the excavators, and each had the opportunity to complete a challenge. Using the digger’s bucket, we had to lift a tyre over a road cone – a task that proved much more difficult than it looked!
At the end of the day, we returned to Harewood Golf Club for a quiz that tested what we had learnt throughout the day. The event concluded with the presentation of certificates, goodie bags, and prizes. Sophie received an award for her excellent digger operating skills, while the Kaiapoi 2 team (Alyssa, Ruby C, Ruby S, Maddison, and Sophie) was recognised for setting the fastest traffic management time trial. Overall, it was an enjoyable and informative day that provided a great insight into the many career opportunities available in the civil construction industry.”
Alyssa Bailey, Y13
