ONE OF Reading’s latest high-profile developments has given budding Berkshire builders a glimpse into the world of construction as it continues its progress.
The Lincoln Property Company, which is developing One Station Hill, invited students to visit the site in central Reading, fielding questions and giving insight into the practicalities of the major construction projects.
When complete, the Station Hill complex will see commercial, office, and living spaces built on the former site of the Gerrard Street car park.
The site is also in front of Reading Station and will connect it to the rest of the town centre with pedestrian thoroughfare.
Students at UTC colleges looking to become builders were invited to hear members of the development team speaking about how they got into the industry and some of the practicalities of building a project as big as the Station Hill development.
They were then treated to a guided tour of the development which included visiting different levels of One Station Hill to see different parts of the construction process in action, such as the installation of the building’s glass facade.
They also had to opportunity to ask questions and heard from workers on the site about the culture and methods of modern construction.
Finley, a student at Reading College, said: “It was a great experience to actually see what kind of environment I’ll be in if I were to go down this career path.
“It’s a really valuable experience I’ve had– personally, big projects and developments are something I’d like to go into.”
Speaking on whether he felt it would be beneficial for fellow students with aspirations in the industry, he said: “Yeah, it’s been really good to see– it gives you some actual personal experience which you don’t get from research.”
Fellow student Alex said: “It opened up a new experience for me.
“As the only female in my whole class, that can be quite pressurising– but events like this give you way more confidence in it.”
She said also that it gave her a sense of how the culture is in modern developments.
“It’s been a real experience– I loved it.”
Lee Fearnhead, director of construction at Lincoln Property Company, spoke to attendees before leading the guided tour around the site.
Speaking after the event, he said that outreach initiatives such as this one were “massively important” in modern construction.
“We actively encourage events like this, as engagement with the community is paramount.
“We are a big, internationally-recognised developer, so when we come into an area like Reading people wonder why.”
He explained that the project was seeking to contribute to the experiences of those thinking about going into construction: “There’s a bit of a missing link between education and bringing people forward into this industry, and there’s a lot of barriers to break down.
“We don’t just rest there with events like this– construction has a huge impact, constantly learning new techniques.
“Now students are starting in a different era; we have to engage with the community, and we want to.”
Engagement is also important for recruitment, too: “We have a massive shortfall in people coming through.
“We have so much talent, but if we could only get them to engage with the industry, from everything up to investment and to the end user.
“When you break it down, we have a massive team– tech only takes you so far, so you need people on the ground.
“It doesn’t matter your role, if you’re involved you have to start somewhere, and that’s what we should be encouraging.”
The Station Hill development is currently expected to be complete in 2024, when it will become home to Reading’s tallest building.
Plans include meeting rooms, co-working spaces, secure cycle parking, a gym with shower and locker facilities, two terraces, and a rooftop lounge area in One Station Hill.
Further developments will see residential, leisure, and commercial spaces built to create a modern, multi-use complex.
Full details about the development are available online via: www.stationhill.co.uk
