A groundbreaking five-year project introducing young people to civil engineering has celebrated the end of a successful first year.
Bridging Horizons, delivered by Cumbria Youth Alliance, engaged 77 young people aged 13 and 14 over the past eight months.
Participants took part in six sessions focusing on personal development, civil engineering problem-solving, hands-on group activities, insights from industry professionals, and site visits to active infrastructure projects.
Designed to introduce young people in Cumbria to studies and careers in civil engineering by removing barriers to access, it is available to students in years nine to 12 and people aged 16 to 24 who are home schooled or who are not in education, employment or training.
Funded by The Benny Walker Charitable Trust, Bridging Horizons was co-designed by its participants and supported by an industry advisory panel, which includes members of the Institution of Civil Engineers North West and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Other organisations which have played an active role during the pilot include Sir Robert McAlpine, Cubby Construction and the Lake District National Park Authority.
The programme which meets Gatsby Benchmarks – a nationally recognised framework for best practice in careers education – also features one-to-one mentoring and personalised support.
Those at the recent celebration competed in a new team event, BECivilE challenge cup.
BECivilE is a physical board game using team work, strategy and civil engineering problem-solving skills, created by Kim Kimberlee-Smith, CYA’s programme lead, and Jamie East, founder of Radiant Energy & Education.
The five competing were Silloth’s Solway Community School, Aspatria’s Beacon Hill Community School, St Benedict’s Catholic High School Whitehaven, Lillyhall’s Energy Coast University Technical College and a CYA Home School and NEET team.
Nicola Gorrill, social value lead at AECOM, presented the winning team from Beacon Hill Community School with a trophy sponsored by AECOM and £300 from CYA.
Becky Wolstenholme, CYA’s CEO, said: “In CYA’s 25th anniversary year, Bridging Horizons encapsulates everything we stand for – removing barriers, raising aspirations, and responding to unmet needs.
“We’ve united young people, educators, industry experts and employers to build a meaningful pathway into civil engineering careers, eliminating cost, travel, and resource obstacles along the way.”
Nicola added: “What makes this programme truly unique is its fresh approach to sparking curiosity about civil engineering in young people, while also focusing on the essential skills needed in the workplace.
“At AECOM, we’re not only passionate about supporting initiatives like this — we rely on them to help build our future workforce.
“Connecting students with local employers and offering site visits to see real-world civil engineering solutions — including those designed for a World Heritage Site like the Lake District — provides invaluable insight. I hope to see some of them getting excited about working in this fascinating sector in the near future.”
