Three years ago today, C&D’s founder John Woodward visited Smestow School to speak at their school assembly as part of a government initiative called ‘Inspiring The Future’, which encouraged UK engineers to devote some of their time to promoting engineering as a future career choice.
The talk was designed to encourage school leavers to consider a career in demolition in which John showed the audience examples of both high reach and explosive demolitions and how ground-breaking technology is taking the industry to new heights.
He spoke passionately about the myths and stereotypes surrounding the industry, comparing the media’s view of demolition to that of teenagers – outdated and, ultimately, completely wrong.
John also used examples of where demolition has cleared the past to make way for the future, citing London 2012 as a case in point where the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) demolished a former industrial site in Stratford, East London to clear the ground ready for the construction of Olympic Park, which included a main stadium, aquatics centre, velodrome, three sports arenas, a hockey centre and accommodation for competitors.
John’s talk had an immediate impact on one particular student who contacted C&D a few days later to enquire about the possibility of work experience.
That young man was Matt Birch, who now works full-time with C&D as a trainee demolition engineer.
It’s amazing what a little bit of inspiration can do.
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