YOUNG construction apprentices at West Suffolk College have proven they have the skills to build a bungalow – albeit in miniature.

For the ‘build-a-bungalow’ project challenge, the group of Year 11 school students who go to the Bury St Edmunds college for one day a week, had to construct a small bungalow and timber-framed building to scale, and to deadline.

The project was carried out within a site-based working environment at the college’s Milburn Centre, in Anglian Lane.

The building initiative also helped promote the use of sustainable products.

David Howells, deputy principal at West Suffolk College, presented certificates to school students from Mildenhall College of Technology, Great Cornard Upper School, Stowmarket High School, Sudbury Upper School and Samuel Ward Academy, who all took part in the project.

The students built scale models, which incorporated the brickwork, carpentry and construction techniques used in real life house-building. The project was sponsored by local firm Ridgeons which currently supports construction students.

School links manager, Carol King, said: “West Suffolk College is the only training provider in the eastern region to organise this kind of event.

“Ridgeons has provided hundreds of pounds worth of materials to enable this exciting event to take place. The collaboration with the company and their suppliers – Lafarge, Hanson and James John – proves that the construction industry is alive and kicking in the eastern region.

“We are very grateful for their support.”

She added: “The students bring a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and skill to the project and we are confident that this opportunity for the year group to work together and complete the project benefits their confidence and morale.

“This is an opportunity to show school-leavers and job-seekers alike that a trade skill is worthwhile.”