BRICKLAYING apprentices at Southend’s Prospects College of Advanced Technology did not have far to travel to gain hands-on experience in the workplace.

No fewer than 27 of the apprentices gained placements at Centenary Place retirement home site, less than a mile away, in Southchurch Boulevard.

The opportunities were provided by the construction company responsible for the development, McCarthy and Stone.

The 17-19-year-olds were overseen by award-winning site manager Keith Julier.

The bricklaying team at the Centenary Place site demonstrated to students how the skills they are learning at college are applied in a real working environment.

The apprentices worked on various facilities at the development, including the sun lounge, designed to encourage residents to socialise.

Mr Julier said: “The apprentices were shown how the site plans are coming to fruition and learned how a bricklayers’ role feeds into the delivery of the wider development.

“We are delighted to have been able to support the students to get hands-on experience out in the field.”

McCarthy and Stone said the scheme was “an overwhelming success.”

Mr Julier said: “It has worked so well that we now plan to roll out similar work placements with joinery and other skilled trade students at the same site.

“We see great value in guiding our employees of tomorrow into the industry.” Stephen Healy, technical and apprentice advisor at the college, said: “The development is located less than a mile from the college, so we were delighted when McCarthy and Stone agreed to work with us.

“We aspire to give our students as many real world working opportunities as possible and projects such as thisenable us to offer a broader curriculum.”

When complete, the development will comprise 30 one and two-bedroom flats, designed exclusively for the over-60s.