Our Work · Projects
Every initiative strengthens the relationship between academia and industry while helping participants build knowledge, networks and practical experience.
Project · Organisation-wide · Founding initiative
The project that led to the creation of Northumbria Construct.
Developed during the Association for Project Management (APM) Project Management Challenge, the project investigated why many students struggled to engage effectively with the construction industry despite the wealth of opportunities available through universities, employers and professional institutions.
Using structured project management methodologies, the project combined research, stakeholder engagement, industry interviews, storytelling and educational outreach to better understand the barriers preventing meaningful participation.
The findings demonstrated that the primary challenge was not the absence of opportunity, but the lack of visibility, understanding and accessibility.
Recognising that these challenges extended beyond the competition itself, the project team transformed Bridge the Gap into a continuing programme of professional engagement, leading to the establishment of Northumbria Construct.
Project · Newcastle Hub
A structured debate that turned discussion into practical recommendations and new opportunities.
“Universities Are Failing to Prepare Graduates for Industry.”
The project brought together participants, academics and industry professionals to examine the responsibilities of universities, individuals, employers and professional institutions in preparing graduates for professional practice.
Audience feedback and recommendations were analysed and compiled into a formal report presented to stakeholders within Northumbria University Experiential Learning Team and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
Recommendations included clearer communication around opportunities and improved signposting of Personal Protective Equipment availability for construction site visits. These actions contributed to increased participation in subsequent CIOB site visits.
Create collaboration, evaluate industry readiness and produce evidence-based recommendations.
Plan the debate, collect stakeholder feedback and present findings to institutional partners.
Improved communication, better PPE signposting and increased participation in CIOB site visits.
Project · Newcastle Hub
Northumbria Construct contributed to the planning, coordination and delivery of the professional engagement day involving CIOB North East Tomorrow’s Leaders and Gateshead College.
Our contribution covered stakeholder coordination, volunteer mobilisation, project planning, activity preparation and resource coordination. NorCon Projects was used to support the work, alongside the BRIC construction careers activity.
The engagement involved CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders, Gateshead College, Northumbria Construct and individual volunteers. Northumbria Construct’s contribution forms part of that collective delivery.
Callum O’Connor led Northumbria Construct’s volunteer team, alongside Vemula Sai Praneeth, Finn Mulholland, Aditya Shetty, Mayuri Shinde and Collins Tamunotonye. Activities drew on the CIOB Think Construction Toolkit and piloted BRIC with approximately 40 students across eight teams.
The pilot identified opportunities to simplify BRIC instructions and refine gameplay. Volunteers put leadership, communication, teamwork and stakeholder engagement into practice; the experience reinforced the value of participatory learning and accessible professional networks.
Version 2 of NorCon Projects supported the contribution, building on the debate application with baselines and governance, risk and issue management, change control, benefits and value management, sustainability tracking and enhanced reporting.
Our project philosophy
Together, we can
bridge the gap.
We measure success through stronger relationships, wider access to opportunity and benefits that continue beyond each project.
