Regeneration for the Next Generation: Talking Property & Construction with the Jason Roberts Foundation
Continuing our work with the Jason Roberts Foundation, we were pleased to invite three of their current A level students to our studio to meet the team behind a construction project and discuss how regeneration can shape the future.
7 year olds Mamadou Diallo, Mohamed El Saghir and Hamza Klikha joined our director, Oli Lowrie to learn about the entire construction process, meeting professionals from all disciplines including architecture, construction, planning and project management. Oli gave a brief overview of each role and how property professionals work together, as well explaining the entire construction process and any potential barriers to development. He then invited the boys to view some of Ackroyd Lowrie’s latest regeneration projects using our Virtual Reality (VR) software accessed from QR codes via their phones.
“I didn’t know construction could be so hard, there’s a lot of restrictions, especially in the UK,” said Hamza Klikha. “I’ve learnt that there’s multiple steps to actually go from having the idea of building the building to realising it.”
Mamadou, Mohamed and Hamza were then introduced to some of our colleagues, planning consultants Hybrid Planning & Development; contractor, Adam Clark and QS/PM , Kempton Smith. Representatives from each of these companies explained their own roles and responsibilities to the trio covering topics including allocation of land, community engagement, council housing targets, building in conservation areas, specifying and costing materials, understanding risks and sourcing contractors.
Oli Lowrie said: “It’s been a real pleasure to have Mamadou, Mohamed and Hamza join us because it shows the appetite from the next generation to join the industry. They asked really insightful questions, not just about routes into the industry and what qualifications you need but ones they’d obviously researched including zero carbon and the green agenda, property as an investment, land values in the UK vs US and following the Japanese and Chinese explorations into 3D printed houses. It was so encouraging to see their passion for making a difference.”
Mohamed El Saghir added: “It’s been a really fun day today at Ackroyd Lowrie. For me, the most interesting part was to see buildings in the VR before they’re actually built and also I’ve learned that to become a developer you don’t really need the qualifications. You need the skills, intelligence to manage money and experience. I’m really looking forward to becoming a property developer.”
A video of the day was taken as part of a new series from the Jason Roberts Foundation and will be available in May.