GRAHAM has successfully engaged with 199 students from seven local schools and colleges providing 22 bespoke insight opportunities through an innovative two-part school partnership programme delivered over the academic year.
Aligned to GRAHAM’s Fermanagh Lakeland Forum redevelopment project, a new £70m state-of-the-art leisure, health and wellbeing hub in Enniskillen, the programme connects classroom learning directly with a live construction project. Once complete, the facility will become the first Passivhaus-certified leisure centre in Ireland, placing it at the forefront of sustainable design. The project, which was procured via the Major Works Framework managed by Pagabo, is being delivered on behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
Participating institutions included St Fanchea’s College, St Kevin’s College, St Michael’s College, Erne Integrated College, South West College (Enniskillen and Omagh campuses) and Drumragh Integrated College.
Bridging classroom and construction site
The programme was built around a two-part model, combining in-school engagement with immersive, on-site learning at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum development.
Part one: Bringing industry into the classroom:
The first phase saw GRAHAM professionals visit the schools and colleges to deliver interactive sessions introducing students to the project and the wide range of careers within construction.
Students had the opportunity to:
• Learn about the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum redevelopment and its role in the local community
• Meet members of the site team and gain insight into their daily roles and responsibilities
• Explore real-life career journeys and routes into the industry, including apprenticeships and higher education pathways
• Develop an understanding of Passivhaus principles and sustainable construction
• Take part in a STEM design and build challenge, applying their learning in a practical setting
As part of the programme, students were set a Future-Ready Community Space design challenge, encouraging them to work collaboratively to create sustainable, inclusive concepts linked to the Forum redevelopment.
This challenge required students to consider site layout, sustainability features, construction roles and community impact, helping them to better understand how construction projects are planned and delivered in real-world scenarios.
Part two: Experiencing construction first-hand:
The second phase brought students onto the live Fermanagh Lakeland Forum development site for an immersive experience of the project in action.
During their site visit, students:
• Took part in a guided site tour to understand the scale and complexity of the development
• Met the Project Manager and wider site team, seeing how different roles work together on a live project
• Observed how Passivhaus and sustainability principles are implemented in practice
• Finalised and delivered their project presentations to the site leadership team
For many students, presenting their ideas on-site provided a valuable learning experience. South West College highlighted that this exercise helped prepare students for similar college assignments, strengthening both confidence and presentation skills.
Showcasing real career journeys
A key highlight of the programme was the involvement of two local apprentices currently working on-site who were previous students of St Michael’s College and South West College, who shared their own experiences.
They spoke about their pathways into construction and their day-to-day roles on the project.
Hearing directly from individuals who had recently been in the same classrooms gave students relatable, real-life insight into career opportunities within the industry and demonstrated clear, achievable pathways into employment.
A lasting impact
By combining classroom engagement, practical challenges and live site experience, the programme has provided students with a holistic view of the construction industry.
When students were asked what they enjoyed most, feedback included:
“I loved exploring the different jobs that the people in construction do and there is such a wide range of roles in construction that I never knew about. I also loved looking at the drawings of the new Forum, I thought it was really cool.”
“Getting to see how everyone within the construction industry has a different role to play whether that is on site or in an office, this has outlined to me that I can work in the industry in either an outdoor or an indoor job.”
Positive feedback was also received from educators:
“I found the two sessions with GRAHAM useful in helping break down barriers/stereotypes for girls entering the world of construction and engineering. Both of the sessions were useful in helping guide our students into the various careers available with GRAHAM, and it was wonderful to be able to tour the large construction of the new Lakeland Forum in Enniskillen.” Educator, St Fanchea’s College, Enniskillen
“We would like to thank GRAHAM for their continued commitment to engaging young people in the construction industry. Opportunities like this are invaluable in supporting students’ development, fostering local talent, and helping learners build the skills and confidence to thrive in the sector.” John Moss, Head of Department for Sustainability, Construction and Transport, South West College
Building futures through collaboration
Delivered in partnership with Futures for All and with support from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, the programme demonstrates the impact of collaborative engagement between industry, education providers and local communities.
As the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum project progresses, it continues to serve not only as a landmark development for the region, but also as a live learning environment, equipping young people with the skills, confidence and inspiration to pursue future careers in construction and engineering.
Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Debbie Coyle, said:
The Fermanagh Lakeland Forum redevelopment is a significant investment in the future of our district and it is encouraging to see benefits being realised well before the project is complete. Through this innovative programme, local students have gained valuable insight into career opportunities, developed new skills and experienced first-hand the realities of a major construction project.
Supporting the wellbeing, aspirations and potential of young people is a key objective within the Fermanagh and Omagh 2030 Community Plan. Programmes such as this help strengthen links between education and industry, inspire future career pathways and contribute to building a healthy, inclusive and resilient community.
Further information is available on the redevelopment page of the Council’s website at www.fermanaghomagh.com.