Why we teach construction on a real-life building site

By Luke Mantle, Director of Construction and Building Services, Chesterfield College 

What if learners didn’t just study construction, but experienced it every day?

That’s the thinking behind the Construction Skills Hub in Staveley. Built on a live housing development, the hub gives young people and adults the chance to learn in the same environment they’ll one day work in. It’s practical, it’s immersive, and most importantly, it works.

The idea for the Hub started with a clear challenge.

Too many learners, particularly those at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET), weren’t engaging in traditional classroom-based learning. At the same time, employers across the region were struggling to find work-ready individuals with the right skills, behaviours, and understanding of modern construction.

Working with Chesterfield Borough Council, Devonshire Group and industry partners, we set out to do something different.  

The result was the Construction Skills Hub: a purpose-built training facility on a live housing site, designed to bridge education and employment, currently located at the Devonshire Group’s Mastin Moor development. This was made possible originally by government funding as one of nine projects on the Staveley Town Deal.  

From day one, learners step into a real construction environment. They walk through an active site, take part in daily toolbox talks, and work in a dedicated training area that mirrors the full build process, from groundworks through to final finishes. This isn’t simulation, but real-world experience.

Our staff play a critical role. Many come directly from industry, bringing current knowledge and expectations into the classroom, although, in this case, the “classroom” is an outdoor, live site environment.

What makes the programme particularly powerful is the collaboration behind it. Over 30 employer partners contribute to curriculum design, mentoring, and work experience opportunities. This ensures what we teach is always aligned to industry needs.

We’ve also embedded English and maths directly into practical learning. Instead of teaching these separately, tutors work alongside vocational staff on site, helping learners apply maths through measuring materials or develop communication skills through real workplace scenarios. The result is a highly engaging, inclusive model that supports a wide range of learners, particularly those who may have struggled in more traditional settings.

A regeneration story

The impact has been significant, and it’s happened fast.

Since launching, the vast majority of learners have successfully achieved their qualifications, with many progressing into apprenticeships, employment, or further study in construction. Just as importantly, learners who were previously disengaged from education have re-engaged and rediscovered a sense of purpose.  

For many, this is the first time learning has felt relevant. We’ve also seen strong outcomes in English and maths, driven by the contextualised approach to delivery. Learners are more motivated because they can clearly see how these skills apply to their future careers.

Beyond individual learners, the hub is supporting the wider community. It’s helping reduce NEET numbers, raising aspirations through engagement with local schools, and providing employers with a pipeline of skilled, work-ready talent. In short, it’s not just an education programme. It’s part of a wider regeneration story.

The Construction Skills Hub was never designed to stand still. Demand continues to grow, and we’re expanding both provision and facilities to meet it. This includes introducing adult bootcamps for those looking to retrain and extending partnerships with employers to create more direct progression routes into jobs and apprenticeships.

One of the most exciting features of the model is its flexibility. As the current housing development progresses, the hub itself will relocate to a new live site, ensuring learners continue to benefit from up-to-date, real-world construction environments. Looking ahead, the hub is set to support thousands of learners over the next decade, playing a key role in developing the workforce needed for future housing and sustainability targets.

If there’s one key lesson from this journey, it’s this: don’t be afraid to rethink the traditional model. Start with the needs of your learners and your local economy. Work closely with employers, not just as partners, but as co-designers of the curriculum. Most importantly, create meaningful, real-world experiences. When learning feels purposeful, everything changes, engagement improves, confidence grows, and outcomes follow. It doesn’t have to be perfect from day one. Our model has evolved continuously, and that flexibility has been a strength.

The Construction Skills Hub shows what’s possible when education and industry come together with a shared purpose. By putting learners at the centre and bringing learning into the real world, we’re not just teaching construction, we’re inspiring futures.