A PROJECT aiming to develop the next generation of scientists and engineers has provided some enthusiastic youngsters with a tour of the new section of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road.

Members of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Section Two team continued their local engagement activities with the Henllys Church in Wales School, Cwmbran, recently.

A six-week long school engineering project was designed to encourage children to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

As part of the programme, a number of specialists from the project team including Costain, CH2M and Atkins visited the school, with more than 30 pupils taking part in a range of workshops.

This culminated in a tour of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Section Two construction site, with the children designing a section of the site hoarding to display what they learned.

Costain’s project director Bruce Richards said the project has been a “tremendous success”.

“It has helped the children to understand potential career opportunities within the construction industry as well as providing a good source of educational engagement and activity within the STEM agenda,” he said.

A465 Heads of the Valleys Section 2 project team are currently considering running similar programmes aimed at young people within the local community.

They aim to offer students the chance to gain a greater understanding of STEM and hands-on experience of a major infrastructure project.

Henllys Church in Wales School head teacher, Mark Durbin, said: “This community engagement has been enthusiastically received by children, teachers and parents alike and has been a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of British design and engineering talent.”

CH2M’s design project manager, Paul Sandford added: “I hope this programme will encourage many of the school children involved to consider a career in science and engineering.”