Story Contracting was proud to support Cumberland Council in delivering a three-day work experience programme to a record-breaking 130 students at Caldew School in Dalston, Cumbria.
As part of the Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR) supply chain, we joined a diverse group of contractors to give the Year 9 and 10 students a first-hand look at the wide range of careers the construction industry offers.
The initiative was developed in collaboration with key CSLR contractors, including Galliford Try Infrastructure, Heidelberg Materials, GoGreen, Danny Sullivan Group, Premiere Traffic Management, Peacocks Precision Services, and Story Contracting. Throughout the programme, students took part in interactive sessions covering engineering, design, operations, and commercial management, helping them gain a deeper understanding of how large-scale infrastructure projects come to life.
A key highlight was a visit to the CSLR worksites, where students experienced the scale and complexity of the £200 million project first-hand.
Cumberland Councillor Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said: “We are thrilled to have delivered this work experience programme for Caldew School, situated close to the CSLR project. Once completed, the new road will benefit the local community, and we are committed to ensuring young people have access to the opportunities this industry has to offer. By engaging with this programme, students have gained a unique insight into the vast career possibilities within construction – an industry they may not have previously considered. We hope this initiative has inspired them to explore careers in this rewarding field.
“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together businesses, educators, and industry professionals to create an enriching experience. Providing young people with hands-on exposure to real-world projects is key to developing a skilled workforce for the future. We are incredibly grateful to our contractors for their enthusiasm and support in making this programme a success.”
Marie Whitehead, Communications and Engagement Director for Story Contracting, said: “It was fantastic to be part of this three-day programme at Caldew School, where the students showed great enthusiasm and engagement throughout. A huge thank you to the 42 industry professionals who delivered and supported the sessions—your dedication made this experience truly valuable. It was a pleasure to meet the staff and pupils, who were a credit to their school and to Carlisle.”
Vicki Jackson, Caldew School Headteacher, said: “The students involved in the project have had an amazing experience hearing firsthand about the CSLR project and the diverse range of careers linked to the new infrastructure both now and in the future. The comments and feedback from the students is extremely positive and we thank all the major contractors and industry professionals for their involvement this week. This has been a truly collaborative project with our students at the heart of it.”
The CSLR project, which will connect Junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 to the west, is a major infrastructure development that will reduce congestion in Carlisle and support the growth of the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village. The 8km route will feature new junctions linking existing radial routes into Carlisle, as well as bridges spanning two major railway lines and the Caldew and Petteril rivers. The road will also include a comprehensive network of footways and cycleways, along with extensive landscaping and environmental mitigation measures to enhance the surrounding area.
