Construction students got the chance to check the progress of their own college's £8.3million build project this week as the new Technology Centre, being built by Mansell, enters its last 6 months build phase.

And who better to explain the exciting development than one of Mansell's own trainee quantity surveyors, Mellissa Sparkes, who also happens to be studying an HNC course part time at the college.

Nick Thom, Construction lecturer who organised the visit, said “It's an essential part of the full time students' extended diploma construction course that they are able to relate the workshop skills and technical theory to real life project so we have been using the Technology Centre as a particular focus since it obviously has a special relevance to us.”

“Mellissa is also an inspiration to the students. She started her interest in construction on our 14-16 programme whilst still at school in Isca in Exeter and then excelled in the National Diploma two years later finishing as one of our highest ever placed learners and being awarded the Construction Student of the Year last year. She is an excellent role model that helps us challenge and inspire students so meeting her today helps to show the group the high standards and commitment they can achieve.”

Meeting the first year students for the first time Mellissa said, “It's really interesting talking to students who were in my position a few years ago. I want to encourage them to be passionate about the construction industry, girls as well as boys, and get them to do whatever they need to so that they succeed.”

The world class Technology Centre, due to open in September to students, will house the expanding Engineering, Automotive and Aerospace faculty, currently housed in workshops and lecture bases in different sites across the city. The construction faculty hasn't been forgotten with all the building work however, having celebrated only last year the opening of a £1million refurbishment of their industry standard facilities at Sowton with new bricklaying workshops, lecture rooms and student space.

Dan Wreford, 16 originally from Chulmleigh School and Jonathan Goldsworthy, 17 from Uffculme said of the visit “It's given us an insight into the real construction industry. We found out about techniques, health and safety, site procedures and how a build like this is organised. It also showed us the different career paths and that yes that if we do well we could get a job.”

Welcoming the construction students to the extensive build project Steve McShane from Mansell said “I was delighted to be able to show the next generation of potential construction experts around the Technology Centre build, helping the students to understand about modern building techniques, including health and safety procedures. Mansell is very keen to work with the college on these types of visits to showcase this exciting project.”