Esholt Hall redevelopment provides ‘real world experience’ for Bradford College joinery students

Yorkshire Water (@YorkshireWater) has joined forces with Bradford College (@BradfordCollege) to provide an opportunity for joinery students to gain experience working on grade II listed Esholt Hall.

The building is undergoing a major redevelopment as part of Yorkshire Water’s aim to create a flagship Centre of Excellence for learning and wellbeing.

Level 1 Carpentry and Joinery students aged between 16 and 19 have been working on a variety of projects at the hall, including designing and installing a large decking area on an area of disused land, which will provide an outdoor seating area.

Peter Coddington, project lead at Yorkshire Water, said:

“We are committed to making our land deliver excellence for the people of Yorkshire. In this case, the opportunity to provide some hands-on experience for young people in the community was one we jumped at.

“The work done by the students from Bradford College has been excellent and we hope the chance to work on Esholt Hall has helped improve their skills. We’re looking forward to working together in the future as we continue to construct our Centre of Excellence.”

James Haigh, lecturer in carpentry and joinery at Bradford College, said:

“Our students have gone above and beyond expectations in required ability and dedication to the task, and they have adapted to a ‘real world’ construction job exceptionally well.

“It has given them a sample of real-life work experience, which is something we really wanted to offer our students, the consensus is overwhelmingly that they have really enjoyed being a part of it. Their attitude, application, timekeeping and work ethic has been inspirational at this level and age.

“Moving forward and looking into the future we will be hoping to secure a long lasting partnership Yorkshire Water on this particular site, enabling Bradford College to give students at all levels the opportunity for this in-depth work experience on a heritage building and estate.”