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WATES GROUP LTD. - CONTRACTOR HELPS TO BUILD A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR CAMBRIDGE STUDENTS
[July 15, 2014]

WATES GROUP LTD. - CONTRACTOR HELPS TO BUILD A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR CAMBRIDGE STUDENTS


(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 15 July 2014 Release date- 11072014 - Wates, the contractor responsible for Brookgate's 21 Station Road scheme in Cambridge and the city's largest student accommodation development for over ten years at CB1, has embarked on a three-year partnership with Impington Village College to help ready its students for the world of work.



Facilitated by business-led charity, Business in the Community (BITC), the collaboration forms part of Wates' nationwide commitment to engage with local young people to help develop vocational skills and raise career aspirations.

As part of the initiative, Wates has pledged to deliver a programme of activities, including a range of practical workshops, mentoring sessions and site visits to give students an insight into the inner workings of a construction project.


The partnership forms part of 'Business Class', an education programme by BITC designed to match businesses to local schools and help them forge long-term relationships to address the needs of the school and enhance curriculum delivery.

As a national champion of the programme, Wates has so far developed nine long-term partnerships with schools across the UK, including work experience opportunities to introduce students to the diverse careers within the construction industry.

Phil Shortman, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction Northern Home Counties and East, commented: 'As a family business Wates is an organisation which upholds a deep-rooted commitment to enhancing the communities in which we work and Business Class is a valuable means of ensuring we achieve this. Our team is very much looking forward to embarking on our partnership with Impington Village College and seeing first-hand the real difference that can be made when business and education works together.' Richard Spencer, Vice Principal, Impington Village College, added: 'Impington Village College shares a common goal of working closely with its community both near and far, so we believe the values we have fit closely with those of Wates Construction. Already we have discussed a number of exciting opportunities which will benefit not only students but some of our staff as well. These plans will form part of our curriculum offer for the next year and we are excited to be working with a local organisation who will provide such a rich and diverse opportunity for our students' Business in the Community is a business-led charity, focused on promoting responsible business practices. Catherine Lang, Education Manager, Business in the Community said: 'Partnering with a school is one of the most effective ways that business can make a difference in their community. Business Class makes a difference because it creates genuine long term partnerships which consider the needs of the whole school. Partner businesses work with schools in a variety of ways, from offering guidance on business planning and mentoring teachers to specific student support such as CV writing, interview skills, literacy and maths.' She continued: 'There has been fantastic take-up of schools and business joining Business Class across the country and it's making a real difference, particularly around inspiring young people about the world of work and connecting them with opportunities to learn from potential employers and gain work experience. We're excited to now be working with Wates in Cambridge with their partner school Impington Village College'.

Wates Construction completed Brookgate's 21 Station Road scheme in 2012, which is now home to Microsoft Research's new HQ and forms part of Brookgate's CB1 scheme and the significant transformation of Cambridge city centre.

The contractor also recently delivered the largest student accommodation development to be built in Cambridge for over ten years, providing 511 state-of-the-art en-suite rooms to cater for students of Anglia Ruskin University.

Wates' work to improve educational attainment was recognised in July 2011 when it was named Responsible Company of the Year by Business in the Community. The company was also awarded a Platinum Plus status in the BITC Corporate Responsibility (CR) Index in 2010, which examines the extent to which companies serve their community.

Press Contact: Gareth Coombes-Olney Director Tel: 01372 861265 (c) 2014 Electronic News Publishing -

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