Inspiring the Future shares its results

The Inspiring the Future scheme, launched by the government to get industry leaders to visit schools on a volunteer basis to talk to pupils about their career and future employment opportunities, has long been supported by C&D Consultancy and John Woodward. John actively visits schools to talk about the demolition industry and hopefully inspire a few kids to set their sights on entering it.

With the scheme having run for quite some time now, the organisers have shared some fascinating insights into the results of the initiative. You can read all about them in the latest Inspiring the Future mail out.

Some highlights include the compilation of some of the key findings from various research reports explaining how the impact of interactions with young people is positively affecting them. Recently, 150 volunteers from all over the country took part in Blackpool Aspirations Week, the Chartered Institute of Building have developed a handy resource to help students know more about the range of careers in the construction industry, and the scheme got a new high-profile volunteer in the form of Andrew Price, EMEA Finance Director at BSI.

Keep up-to-date with all Inspiring the Future news on their website, and please consider becoming a volunteer.

John Woodward talks career choices in latest issue of Demolition

The latest edition of the world's biggest and most widely-read publication for the global demolition industry, Demolition, includes an article entitled "Save Lives Through Engineering" featuring our very own John Woodward.

The article discusses John's efforts to back an initiative and encourage children to consider a career in engineering, which of course includes the demolition sector.

Issue 18 of Demolition is free to read online. John's two-page article can be found on page 10.

New children’s book highlights the core values and potential hazards of the demolition business.

C&D Consultancy is proud to announce the publication of a new children’s book dedicated to the demolition industry.

My Dad Does Demolition is the brainchild of former Institute of Demolition Engineers’ president and industry training leader John Woodward.

Ideally suited to children from five to eight years old, the book has been developed to encourage children to consider a career in demolition from an early age.

“I wanted a book that showed children what demolition was all about, how safety is vitally important, and how materials could be recycled and re-used. Perhaps the biggest challenge was making demolition sound as interesting as possible without making it sound so intriguing that children viewed demolition sites as potential playgrounds.”

“Many children today are intent on becoming footballers or pop stars. I wanted to show them that there was an alternative within the demolition industry,” he explains. “Understandably, we try to keep children at arm’s length because of the potential hazards on demolition sites, but this makes it difficult to engage with children that might consider working within the sector. Hopefully, this book will go some way to helping children understand what goes on behind the site hoardings and encourage them to consider a career in our industry.”

The book, which is available for sale priced £4.99 + postage and packing, has also been designed to allow parents, grandparents, carers and teachers to read it with children, to look more deeply at the subjects covered, and to encourage children to ask questions.

“The book ticks all the key industry boxes. Obviously, I wanted to explain just what demolition is, but I also touch upon materials recycling and the role of demolition in making progress possible. And, of course, there is an over-riding safety-first message.”

To purchase the book, just click here.

Primary Futures Project launches today at the Birmingham Library

I am delighted to be one of the launch speakers for the Primary Futures Project launching at Birmingham University today and following on from my recent talks in Wolverhampton and Tipton.

This is a project, available to all primary schools, working under the banner of the highly successful 'Inspiring the Future' programme to develop effective, innovative approaches which will allow schools to easily engage volunteers to work in schools supporting children.

The aim is to support the raising of standards for all, widen the horizons and aspirations of primary age children with regards to their own futures and foster the love of reading and numeracy.

The Primary Futures project is led by the National Association of Headteachers in partnership with the Inspiring the Future charity on behalf of The Education and Employers Taskforce which enables everyone from firefighters to zoologists, engineers to doctors, to go into state schools to talk with pupils.

To learn more visit the Primary Futures website.

Talk at Tipton Green school hailed as a success

Thursday 27th March saw John at Tipton Green School giving talks to all of the classes about a life in demolition as part of the "Inspiring the Future" programme. The talks were the second time John had returned to school to talk to pupils and this time John was one of six people attending to give the pupils an insight into the real world of work.


The full programme saw John, and Steve Gray of C&D customer Apollo GCL, along with other professionals give short talks to each class in turn to inspire the pupils to consider a job other than a Pop Star or Footballer.

The programme, which can be downloaded, allowed little time for breaks to ensure that all classes heard each speaker.

John's talk, entitled "Demolition Engineering A Great Career Choice" was very well received with several of the pupils wanting to drive large machines and blow down buildings.



Following the talks John has agreed to return to the school to be interviewed on the school radio station.