SCHOOL pupils are to be inspired to fill a civil engineering skills gap when they build a working suspension bridge from scratch.

Pupils from primary and secondary schools in Darlington will attend a week of sessions where they build the cable-stayed bridge, owned by The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North East, from scratch and then carry out the ultimate test of walking across it.

The November event is the fourth year in a row that ICE has joined forces with Foundation for Jobs and Darlington College, which hosts the activity, to give children and young people a hands-on example of civil engineering work.

It comes as civil engineering needs to recruit more young people as the economic recovery continues and new infrastructure projects are rolled out.

However, the industry sector is facing an impending skills gap with around a third of the UK’s civil engineers due to retire in the next five to ten years.

ICE North East director, Penny Marshall, said: “It’s great news we have been able to arrange for the Foundation for Jobs and Darlington College to once more play host to ICE North East’s replica cable stay bridge in November.

“Generating enthusiasm among young people for the civil engineering industry, and educating them about the exciting career opportunities in the sector, is one of the key roles of the ICE, so activities such as this are hugely important.

“November is also the month when we celebrate Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, so having schools from across the area engaging with engineering in this way is brilliant.”

As a major part of the region’s economy engineering is a key area for Foundation for Jobs in its aim to match young people’s aspirations with the North-East employment market.

Now a national award-winning project, Foundation for Jobs is a joint initiative to tackle youth unemployment involving The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington Partnership of private firms and public sector organisations, which has also enjoyed support from businesses and industrialists across the whole North-East region.

It has worked with more than 5,000 young people since it was launched three years ago.

For further details contact owen.mcateer@darlington.gov.uk or go to foundationforjobs.co.uk