Date: November 14, 2023

Read apprentices, Adam and Wesley, were recently selected by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) to participate in a trip to Italy as a reward for their outstanding performance in the CIOB Student Challenge, where they represented LJMU in skills challenges against other educational establishments.

Both Adam and Wesley are Trainee Site Managers, completing Construction Management Degree Apprenticeships at LJMU, which allows them to combine academic studies with practical experience on Read’s construction sites.

During their time in Italy, students had the opportunity to explore and learn about the construction practices of different countries, with tasks assigned which required them to identify the variations in construction methods between Italy and the UK.  Gaining valuable insights into the profit margins targeted in Europe, which can differ from those in the UK, as well as gaining knowledge about how the Local Authority in Italy manage health and safety regulations on construction sites. As well as one of the highlights of the trip – witnessing the construction techniques employed in Venice, where buildings are constructed on timber piles.

This trip provided Adam and Wesley with a unique opportunity to broaden their understanding of construction practices in different countries, as well as represent Read and LJMU.