ISG showcases next phase of works at Richmond upon Thames College

ISG showcased the new Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) STEM Centre development to students and faculty as they celebrated the award of the second phase of the college’s redevelopment plans, through the Southern Construction Framework.

The ISG team responsible for the successful Richmond Building project, presented the second phase of RuTC’s redevelopment to 50 of its students and also highlighted the variety of careers available in the construction industry.

A look back

In March 2020, RuTC students moved into the iconic Richmond Building on the existing Twickenham site. For this scheme, awarded through the Pagabo framework, ISG’s project director, Richard White, took home Silver in the Higher Education category of the Construction Manager of the Year Awards as recognition of successfully mastering “the Herculean challenge of this five-storey campus block”.

The state-of-the art Richmond Building provides an inspirational learning environment for students and the local community to enjoy. The building includes learning space for up to 3,000 students, and incorporates a studio block, restaurant and auditorium.

Phase two will see the construction of a brand-new STEM Centre for Science, IT, Engineering and Construction students.

The STEM Centre development

In order to give the students an insight into their new learning environment, ISG hosted an informative virtual event which focused on the construction of the STEM Centre and its final look. For this, videos and further AI methods were shown to the students, which are also used to keep clients updated on progress. ISG highlighted how construction work continued during the pandemic, showing the importance of virtual tours, technology and it’s very own health and safety app.

The presentation showcased the partnership that exists between ISG and RuTC, as the team discussed the first campus building and also the potential opportunities that are available to students who are interested in apprenticeships and work placements.

The attendees also heard from ISG’s senior social value manager, Tania Jacobs, on her career journey from RuTC student to ISG employee. Tania spoke about how RuTC gave her the platform for the career she has today and she also highlighted ISG’s social value commitments such as training, employment and work experience, with a key focus being to engage the local community.

Graduate trainee, James McCulloch, who spent a year on placement on the Richmond Building project spoke about his placement year and how it supported his final year of study to complete his degree. James has now re-joined the business through ISG’s Graduate Programme.

Richard White said, “Our partnership with Richmond upon Thames College extends far beyond the delivery of an outstanding new state-of-the-art campus, to encompass direct apprenticeships, job creation and learning opportunities for the students.

Maximising social value benefits for the local community and Richmond Borough residents, ISG and RuTC are delivering something truly transformational, not just for the college, but the surrounding area.”

Sheila Fraser Whyte, executive director for business development and innovation at RuTC, said: “This event with ISG was the first of many. Students and key stakeholders were given a great opportunity to have a look behind the scenes of their new STEM Centre, seeing every step from the start of the construction project to the finished building.

I want to thank ISG for giving our students a virtual tour of their new learning environment and the opportunities and careers within the industry. There has never been a more important time to showcase a positive future for young people and the journey that we are on to create a building for their dreams and aspirations.”

The STEM Centre is due for completion in Summer 2022.