SCHOOL and college pupils from nine to 18 are gaining hands-on experience of civil engineering by building a 13-metre suspension bridge.

For the second year, The Institution of Civil Engineers (Ice) has joined forces with Foundation for Jobs and Darlington College to offer pupils and students the practical insight into working in the industry.

Over a two-week period, until Friday, pupils from primary and secondary schools in Darlington, as well as engineering and construction students at the college, have attended sessions where they build the cable-stayed bridge, owned by Ice, from scratch and then carry out the ultimate test of walking across it.

Last week, Darlington MP Jenny Chapman joined pupils from Firthmoor Primary School at the college, which is hosting the activity, to gather their opinions.

The activity, which was delivered by volunteers from Ice, Foundation for Jobs and Darlington-based engineering firm A-one+, is designed to give children and young people a hands-on example of civil engineering work, as well as providing access to established professionals with valuable insight into the careers available.

The visit by Ice’s Bridges to Schools programme coincided with the institution’s support of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, a campaign between industry and Government to change outdated perceptions of engineering careers among young people and their parents.

This is also a key aim of the national award-winning Foundation for Jobs project, a joint initiative to combat youth unemployment involving The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council and The Darlington Partnership.

It aims to build young people’s understanding of sectors where jobs are likely to be created in years to come, but they may not have thought of as a career, either through a lack of understanding of what is involved or perceptions they have of an industry.

The overall engineering sector, an integral part of the North-East economy, is facing an impending skills shortage, at a time when youth unemployment in the region is the highest in the UK.

Ms Chapman said: “I wish opportunities like this one had been around in the past.

“If they had we would not be seeing the skills shortages we have now.

“These ten and 11-year-olds have gained hands-on experience and the satisfaction of seeing something they have actually made work.

“It is essential we open the eyes of our young people to the opportunities that are available to them and it is particularly great to see so many girls getting stuck in and seeing what could be a challenging and exciting career opportunity.

“Going and talking to kids is all very well, but what I have has brought a career in engineering to life in a way no classroom-based activity could.”

Penny Marshall, interim regional director, Ice North-East, said: “Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is an important campaign and Ice is proud to be supporting it.

“Engineering is imperative to the UK economy yet many people don’t realise the impact it has on our daily lives.

“We hope that as a result of this campaign, more young people will discover that modern engineering is a diverse, creative and exciting career choice.”

Gary Potts, curriculum manager for construction at Darlington College, added: “It is important to get that interest at a young age, a little bit of inspiration at this stage of their lives can go a long way in steering them on the right career path.”