Prologis site visit gives students insights into 'real life' construction

At NTU, our courses in construction aim to develop an applied knowledge of what it takes to be a successful construction manager, commercial manager and quantity surveyor in practice. Visits to a major construction site like the Prologis Park Hemel Hempstead expansion allow students to relate knowledge acquired on their course to real life construction projects.

David Jones, a Senior Lecturer in Construction Management who teaches the Construction Technology module, explained:

“The trip was an excellent opportunity for our students to see the construction methods and concepts we discuss at the University put into practice on a busy construction site. Real insights came from the interactive workshops on many commercial and planning aspects of the project. These were conducted by a range of construction professionals and generated plenty of discussion.”

The visit was made possible by VolkerFitzpatrick, one of the UK’s leading engineering and construction companies, and chosen by Prologis UK to deliver the Hemel Hempstead expansion project which will see the Park grow by over 280,000 square feet and provide five new distribution units built with sustainability in mind.

The trip was for second-year students studying BSc (Hons) Construction Management and BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management, among them Jude Bower, who said:

“The visit to the VolkerFitzpatrick site was an invaluable experience that provided insights about the latest construction techniques, project management strategies, and the day-to-day running of a large site. It was also great to network with professionals, current NTU placement students, and the employment team.”

Jude found the visit especially rewarding because she was able to secure a construction management placement with the company which she will begin later this year.