EKFB is proud to be part of the Access All Areas campaign led by Speakers for Schools, which supports SEND schools over a five-week programme.

EKFB’s Skills, Employment and Education Manager, Paddy Patterson, visits Pebble Brook School and is pictured with Tom Devey from Pebble Brook, and student, Jack.
From the 8th of November until 6th of December, 20 students from Daventry Hill School in Northamptonshire, and Pebble Brook School in Buckinghamshire, are participating in the learning programme supported by EKFB’s skills, employment and education team.
Through the scheme, students will discover the world of construction and civil engineering and receive some insight into the exciting works carried out by EKFB – a scope of work covering a 80km section of the new high speed rail link between the Chiltern Tunnel and Long Itchington Wood, which includes 15 viaducts, 6.9km of green tunnels, 22km of road diversions, 81 bridges and around 30 million cubic metres of excavation. The students will also learn how EKFB is protecting the environment and animals along the route, and the people behind this ambitious project who are working to create the most diverse and inclusive workforce in the country.
EKFB’s People Co-coordinator, Laurie Mitchel, said: “This is the opportunity for us to offer young people, from years 12 to 14, with a learning disability a chance to engage with us and get a sense of how the world of construction and civil engineering looks like and to develop their confidence and aspirations. We’ve been working with teachers and Speakers for School to plan the structure and length of the sessions to accommodate students’ diverse needs and use appropriate and positive language. We are covering soft skills, wellbeing, health and safety, interactive treasure boxes of tactile goodies for your students to keep, have a look at important life skills such as employability and interview techniques, and above all, have fun whilst learning!”
Find out more about this initiative through the Speakers for Schools website: www.speakersforschools.org/experience-2/vwex/