Back to School: Inspiring the Next Generation at Oaks Park High

Today, Jamie Clancy-Toomey, Buxton's Social Value Manager had the privilege of attending Oaks Park High School — not just as a representative of Buxton, but as a former student. Alongside our Quantity Surveying Apprentice, Adam Gent, we delivered a construction careers session to an enthusiastic group of Year 9 and Year 10 students.

The session is part of a wider programme we’ve developed at Buxton to inspire young people to explore careers in construction. We introduced the students to the breadth of opportunities in our industry, then challenged them to work in teams on a fun and interactive ‘Build a Bridge’ activity.

Their creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving were genuinely impressive. One standout design — proudly named the “Oasis Bridge” — took the prize for most creative structure of the day!

This event had added significance for Jamie personally, as she previously attended the school as a student. It was incredibly rewarding to return and share her own journey — from school leaver to construction apprentice — and show students that there are real pathways into meaningful careers in the built environment.

Buxton is currently on site delivering a new expansion project for the school, and this classroom session is just the beginning. Next week, the same students will join us on a guided site walk to see construction in action — adding another layer to their real-world learning experience.

At Buxton, we’re proud to deliver meaningful and impactful social value wherever we work. Engaging with local schools and inspiring the next generation is at the heart of that mission. Thank you to Oaks Park High for having us back — and to the future engineers, architects and surveyors we met today: keep building!