BTSYM | EDUCATION OUTREACH


INSPIRED OUTREACH TO YOUTH


BTSYM’s collaboration with two training bodies recently gave school students some insight into working in the underground space sector. Report by Sandeep Singh Nirmal


Right: BTSYM held an outreach day to inform school students on tunnelling careers


Far right: BTSYM team – (L to R) – Asil Zaidi, Aryan Malekjahanabadi, and Sandeep Singh Nirmal. The team collaborated with TunnelSkills and the Construction Youth Trust on the special workshop for students


ALL PHOTOS: BTSYM


The British Tunnelling Society Young Members (BTSYM) section recently collaborated with two organisations – TunnelSkills and Construction Youth Trust, respectively – to engage with school students to share experiences from tunnelling industry. BTSYM Schools and Universities co-chair, Sandeep


Singh Nirmal (Senior Tunnel Engineer, Jacobs), with committee members Asil Zaidi (Engineer, London bridge Associates) and Aryan Malekjahanabadi (Assistant Tunnel Engineer, Mott MacDonald), together visited St. Saviour’s & St Olave’s School, in Southwark, south London, on 18 July 2023 to inform a group of students about interesting aspects of the tunnelling industry. The special workshop was initiated by TunnelSkills, facilitated by the Construction Youth Trust, and led and


implemented by the BTSYM team. On the day, the BTSYM team was supported by Construction Youth Trust to interact with 12 of the secondary school students. The focus of the workshop was to introduce the


students to the purpose and types of work in tunnelling industry and the career prospects offered by the underground space and construction industry. As such, the workshop began with a short


introduction about the event and the Construction Youth Trust introduced the BTSYM speakers. Sandeep followed up with a short presentation on


tunnelling and the role tunnelling industry plays to contribute towards society and sustainability. Asil continued the discussion with role of tunnelling in


ongoing cutting edge scientific research at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and energy security, especially nuclear. After a short presentation, the virtual/augmented


CONSTRUCTION YOUTH TRUST The Construction Youth Trust is a charity aiming to inform and inspire young


people about the potential of careers in the construction industry and built environment sector, both of which it believes can help drive social mobility in Britain. As such, it has focused efforts by establishing hubs in locations of deprivation but


long-term infrastructure need and potential. Current hubs are in London and the South-east – in the boroughs of Lewisham and Tower Hamlets, and also in North Kent. Its work is undertaken through long-term relationships with high/senior schools (Years 7-13), organisations and employers. The Trust was established in 1961 as the Building Industry Trust for Youth and changed its name twice, first in the 1990s to Construction Industry Trust for Youth then in the Naughts to its current name. Construction Youth Trust: www.constructionyouth.org.uk


reality (V/AR) sets were handed out to the students for an immersive experience to walk through the tunnel shafts and a TBM-bored circular tunnel. The workshop included explaining the construction processes and the health & safety aspects during this virtual walkthrough of the construction site. The V/AR immersive experience resources, including


headsets, were provided by TunnelSkills, and did help to increase the students’ appreciation of tunnelling and activities underground – without leaving the building. Asil and Aryan handed out some props to students


for short activities to give them some familiarity with the TBM ring building processes. Both then shared some guidance on education pathway, internships and job opportunities that are available in the industry for students.


28 | November 2023


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