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Walker Construction in Ashford work together with Folkestone Primary Academy for Construction Rocks Christmas video

00:01, 25 December 2018

updated: 09:07, 25 December 2018

A school in Folkestone has teamed up with a Kent construction firm for a rocky rendition of Jingle Bells.

Walker Construction has involved Folkestone Academy Primary in producing their 2018 Christmas video to help tackle a shortage in recruits in the industry sector.

It comes as the latest forecast by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) suggests that trade in the UK is estimated an annual average growth rate of 1.3%, meaning the industry will need to recruit 158,000 construction workers across different trades each year for the next five years.

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The Folkestone Academy primary pupils in the video (5888938)
The Folkestone Academy primary pupils in the video (5888938)

But the threat of Brexit facing the labour workforce, and an apparent lack of interest in similar careers among teenagers has led to concerns for smaller construction companies.

The business, based at Eureka Park in Ashford, have spent the last few years visiting schools around Kent and have also launched an apprenticeship scheme in a bid to tackle the skills shortage.

Going further in their mission, they became inspired by the big retailers in the Christmas advert wars and the team came up with a new way to promote the career path.

Local musicians Shake and Bake and videographers from Wildwood Media were commissioned to help capture 'Construction Rocks' - complete with electric guitar playing directors and rapping schoolchildren.

Phil Webb, managing director, said: "Years ago you went into construction if you had no other career prospects, but that’s just not the case anymore.

"There is so much room to grow and progress, if you’re willing to work hard.

"Methods are constantly changing and technology is always improving, but it’s still all about the people it takes to start and finish a project.

"So the challenge we face is finding young people with the work ethic and the enthusiasm to succeed."

Two of the Walker workers outside the Designer Outlet expansion (5888790)
Two of the Walker workers outside the Designer Outlet expansion (5888790)
The Walker directors get rocky in Construction Rocks video (5888788)
The Walker directors get rocky in Construction Rocks video (5888788)

The video has coincided with the launch of the Walker Construction Trust, designed to support and fund causes and charities in the area and bosses have pledged to make a donation to the trust for every share of the video on social media.

The trust can take grant applications from any charities in the area or individuals who need support. From 2019, the trust will begin to fund successful grant applications.

A spokesperson for Turner Schools said: "Across Turner Schools, we work hard to ensure that young people are made aware of the rich variety of future careers that are open to them.

"Sometimes that work is about challenging preconceptions about what particular jobs involve, at other times it is about encouraging young people to ‘think big’ about what they might like to do when they leave education."

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