City College Plymouth and Tamarside Community College's first ever diploma students in construction and the built environment have received their first taste of working on a construction site, with a visit to Interserve.

The 12 students, comprising of 11 boys and one girl are the first students in Plymouth to undertake this new qualification, which offers practical hands-on experience as well as classroom learning.

The students are based in their own school, but are given the opportunity to learn in the workplace over the two year course; giving them an insight into what work is really like and helping them to make decisions about the future while keeping their career options open.

Peter Elmes, academy head for construction at City College Plymouth commented: "This is a wonderful opportunity for young people to gain a broad insight into the career pathways within the construction industry. From the age of 14 students are able to study the Construction and Built Environment Diploma at foundation or higher level, the equivalent to between four and six GCSEs, depending on the level, whilst students over the age of 16 will be able to gain the Advanced Diploma, which is approximately the equivalent to three A levels."

The Diploma will offer students theoretical and practical learning with clear progression to higher education and employment.

For further information please contact City College Plymouth on 01752 305300.