NMIS continue Delivering Social Value

NMIS creates both economic and environmental value through its function and design.

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is an industry-led international centre of manufacturing expertise located at the heart of the new Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) where industry, academia and public sector work together to transform skills, productivity, and innovation.

Throughout the project, the design team have engaged with Primary and Secondary Schools and Further and Higher Education establishments, using the site as a learning tool to encourage more young people to consider a career in construction. Key outcomes from our education engagements include:

42 separate engagement sessions with young people across all education streams – including careers talks, site tours, industry challenges and industry awareness sessions;
47 work experience placements;
Programme of site tours with Glasgow Clyde College;
Sponsorship of £1500 towards tools in order to set up the Morrison Construction Skills Academy and donations of PPE;
Practical workshops on-site for University of Strathclyde Civil Engineering students;
Supporting West College Scotland students undertaking Level 5 Foundation Apprenticeship in Construction with an industry-based challenge;
Talks to University of West of Scotland students;
Providing a £5,000 sponsorship to University of Strathclyde’s architecture school; and Supporting Foundation Apprenticeships through developing a design challenge

Students said: “The opportunity to design something for our school made us feel really important. We wanted to help brighten the building up and make it more welcoming for the community. We were happy to get the opportunity to get the opportunity to do this.”

We worked with Morrison Construction to run a student led design competition at Renfrew High School, a large non-denominational comprehensive school to the West of Glasgow. The school had won a grant of £20,000 to redevelop the outdoor environment of the school and were looking for help to engage their students in the project. Working with the school we developed the idea of a design competition that would not only allow students to help shape their learning environment but would be an engaging and empowering opportunity for the students to develop their own design and presentation skills.

To help students, we developed design guidance and 3D models of the site that could be used as the base for their design ideas. A series of multi-stage design activities, workshops and events were then held including sessions on traditional building skills and visiting a live building site to gain an understanding of future career opportunities in the built environment. Students were then given practice advice on how to cost and present their ideas to the school parliament who voted on the winning proposal.

All these events helped students build key skills and encouraged collaboration and teamwork that adds social value to the wider community.

Through delivery social value initiatives at NMIS we have supported local education establishment and created opportunities for local people to gain access to a career in construction by providing site tours, offering work experience, apprenticeship and jobs. We have supported local community groups and social enterprises assisting them to grow. Morrison Construction have created a programme with the Glasgow Science centre that will be delivered in schools all over Scotland. Ultimately what we have created onsite will leave a Lasting Legacy in the area for years to come.