Fourteen students from a college near Worcester have been given an exclusive tour of a live homebuilding site, experiencing first-hand the skills and careers that go into creating a brand-new community, courtesy of award-winning homebuilder Spitfire Homes.
The year 10 pupils, from Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, explored the early stages of the active site at Blackthorn in Crowle, where 30 design-led, bespoke homes are currently being delivered, following an engaging assembly delivered recently where many displayed an interest in construction practices.
Led by Spitfire Homes engineer Jack Lea, the group explored everything from sustainability and site safety in modern homebuilding to the wide range of roles in the sector across trades, design, site management, marketing and beyond, and how they all combine to create a collection of brand-new homes.
The session gave pupils a deeper understanding of the full construction process and a visible example of how trades and departments collaborate.
The visit concluded with a Q&A session held in the brand-new Estate Office which opened last month, where students quizzed the team on career pathways, qualifications, skills and routes into the industry.
Jane Holland, Careers Advisor at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, said: “Earlier this year, Spitfire Homes visited our school to deliver an engaging assembly to more than 210 pupils, giving them an insight into everything involved in constructing a new homes development.
“Many students were inspired by the presentation and expressed an interest in seeing a site in person, so we were delighted when Spitfire invited us to visit and experience this collaborative process first-hand.
“The construction site visit allowed our students to appreciate the diverse, modern and high‑tech nature of today’s industry. They were able to move beyond traditional stereotypes and discover the wide range of roles involved—from design and engineering to project management and sustainability.
“It offered a valuable, real-world connection to their classroom learning, showing how professional and hands-on careers come together in practice.”
Dave Smith, Managing Director at Spitfire Homes, said: “The construction industry must address the growing need to attract and develop new talent, and it’s important as a collective that we equip the next generation with a clear understanding of the breadth of roles available.
“Visits like this give students opportunities to see this first-hand, and we’re proud to be playing our part in addressing the skills shortage in a practical, engaging way.
“We’ve committed to ensuring that 5% of our total workforce is made up of trainees or graduates – for us, that’s not a target, it’s a reflection of how seriously we take developing young talent.
“Once complete, Blackthorn will be a shining example of excellence in communication, design, and quality. We hope that the students will see the finished site and fondly remember experiencing it in its formative stages.”
For more information or to arrange a viewing, please visit https://spitfirehomes.co.uk/find-your-home/blackthorn/.
