New M&S food hall site tour for Carrickfergus pupils

Carrickfergus Model Primary School pupils have enjoyed a preview of the new Marks and Spencer food hall at Belfast Road.
GRAHAM representatives welcome the Carrickfergus Model Primary School party to the site.GRAHAM representatives welcome the Carrickfergus Model Primary School party to the site.
GRAHAM representatives welcome the Carrickfergus Model Primary School party to the site.

The tour of the site was part of an insight into a career in construction under the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) community engagement programme.

A total of 30 pupils, aged between six and seven, enjoyed an action-packed day of learning with GRAHAM, who started work on site in June 2019 and are scheduled to finish at the end of this month.

Mark Gibson, managing director of GRAHAM’s Interior Fit Out division, discusses the school visit: “The students from Carrickfergus Model Primary School were told about the importance of health and safety on site and how different types of protective equipment such as hard hats; high visibility jackets; protective gloves; goggles; and steel toe-capped footwear are used to keep workers safe. They were also shown why the warning signs on a site are so important and how these can help to prevent accidents.”

CCS is a non-profit-making, independent organisation founded by the construction industry. Sites, companies and suppliers voluntarily register with the scheme and agree to abide by the Code of Considerate Practice. This commits participants to care about appearance, respect the community, protect the environment and secure everyone’s safety and value their workforce.

Thanking GRAHAM for facilitating the site visit, Jenni Miller, principal, Carrickfergus Model PS, said: “The children had a wonderful time learning about the construction work and were able to talk about what they had been learning during their visit.

“They were excited to see the new store before their parents. Thank you for organising this community visit for them.”