A DOZEN Year 12 engineers from South Devon UTC in Newton Abbot had the unique opportunity to visit the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier project, a major civil engineering initiative run by Kier Group PLC.

The students were given an exclusive tour of the live works taking place on-site, where they saw massive cranes sinking concrete support piles into the ground and learned about the scale and complexity of the project.

The Bridgwater Tidal Barrier, designed to protect the town from rising sea levels and flooding, is an enormous engineering feat, and the students gained valuable insight into the various stages of the construction.

From the public viewing platform, the students observed the large-scale works in action and received a comprehensive overview of the project from the team at Kier Group.

In addition to exploring the technical aspects of the project, the students were also introduced to the range of careers within the civil engineering sector.

They were informed about the different routes into these professions and the diverse opportunities available in the field, from project management to hands-on engineering roles.

Claire Plumb, Headteacher at South Devon UTC said: ‘It was incredible for our students to see such a major engineering project up close and to learn about all the different roles involved in bringing it to life.

‘The group gained invaluable experience, not only seeing the scale of the project but also learning about the real-world applications of the skills they are developing in their engineering studies.

‘This visit has certainly inspired them to think about the exciting possibilities for their futures in civil engineering.’

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: ‘This trip is a great example of how we’re preparing our students for the future by giving them hands-on exposure to the industries they could one day work in.

‘The Bridgwater Tidal Barrier project is a prime example of the scale and impact that civil engineering can have, and we are proud to offer our students the chance to engage with such groundbreaking work.’