1 Oct 2026 | Posted by Leah Cassady
Abbey Access Training, part of Acis Group, has helped to inspire the next generation of construction and engineering experts.
The Lincolnshire training provider invited 1,800 Lincolnshire primary and secondary school pupils to Construction and Engineering Week 2026.
The event, which took place at Lincolnshire Showground from Tuesday 22 September to Thursday 24 September, saw pupils try their hand at various practical experiences with the aim of inspiring their future career choices.
Eighty companies attended over the three days to showcase the diverse professions within the Construction and Engineering field.
Now in its 22nd year, the annual event is run by Lincolnshire Group Training Association and sponsored by the Industry Training Boards for construction and engineering (CITB and ECITB), with Abbey Access Training engaging with schools and helping organise this large-scale event for the past six years.
Abbey Access Training Chief Executive Gail Dunn said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for primary and secondary school children to have a go at skills from the construction industry which could inspire and encourage them to consider it as a career.
“Children get to experience four activities from a range of things such as bricklaying, joinery, block paving, plumbing, electrical, scaffolding and road marking to birdbox making and painting.
“It’s a real joy to watch the excitement and enjoyment of those attending and learning.”
Karen Miller, Teaching Assistant at Hartsholme Academy south of Lincoln said the activities created a wow factor among pupils.
She explained: “We loved the event and the fact there’s so many different activities, it was really worth coming.
“Hands-on activities are really important for the children to keep them engaged and give them those experiences, rather than just talking to them. They got to try out things that they would never have tried anywhere else, like the laser scanning, which they would not have had a clue existed before this.”
Ashley Frankish, Year Six teacher at Sibsey Primary School, said: “It's really important for us to bring the children out to events like this, exposing them to different careers and different opportunities that they can hopefully go on to enjoy in the future.
“The event helps inspire and show the children that there’s lots of different opportunities out there, it’s not all education based and there are other career paths they can take.”
David Helliwell from Daniel Charles Construction has been attending the event for the past 17 years.
He said: “For me it's the engagement with the children, letting them see what the industry offers and what future options there out are. It's fantastic and I get so much satisfaction seeing them enjoying themselves.
“I also just want to add thanks to all the people that come and give up their time and resources to organise this event.”