June12, 2003

CITB to launchcreative spaces schools design competition
during national construction week 2003

National Construction Week 2003(October 8-15) will see CITB launch Creative Spaces a schools designcompetition offering young people the opportunity to experience the excitementof working in construction while developing proposals for improvements to theirschools built environment. The winning school will see their design become areality with 50,000 worth of building work.

Construction firms and relatedprofessions including architects, civil engineers, surveyors, contractors andassociated trades are being asked by CITB, organisers of the competition, tolink up with a participating local school to offer advice and support duringthe process.

The competition aimed at 11-14 yearolds in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be supported by acurriculum pack and online materials focussed on the Design & Technologycurriculum. Pupils and teachers will be introduced to industry standards suchas the CIC Design Quality Indicators, which pupils will use to assess theviability of their designs.

NCW 2003 Senior Project Manager PaulBower said: "The competition will have a very solid academic basis, butwill be fun as well, we hope it will spark young peoples imaginations andencourage an interest in construction. Pairing schools with local constructionfirms and building professionals will enhance the design process and introducepupils to how decisions are made and problems solved in the real world ofconstruction. It also gives firms the opportunity to create links with thecommunity in which they work."

The competition forms part of theindustry-backed National Construction Week (NCW) for which hundreds of eventsare being planned across the UK. A range of promotional materials and on-lineresources are being produced to assist event organisers, the first 250 eventsto register on the website www.ncw.org.uk/eventsbyJuly 30 will receive a free NCW banner.

Individuals and organisations in theconstruction industry wishing to offer help or advice to a school participatingin Creative Spaces should register on the National Construction Week 2003websitewww.ncw.org.uk or call freephone0800 085 8467.

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For further information media shouldcontact PR Officer Leander Perry on 020 7367 9803

Notes to editors:

Creative Spaces

1. Schools can pre register forinformation which will be sent out at the beginning of Autumn term 2003 bygoing towww.ncw.org.uk/creativespacesor calling the free NCW 2003 information line (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) on0800 085 8467.

2. The deadline for completed submissionsfrom schools is April 2 2004.

3. Regional winners will each receive3,000 towards improving their school.

National Construction Week (NCW)

1. Last year, during NationalConstruction Week (NCW):

1,052 events took place

63,000 young people took part 26 per cent increase on NCW2001

Over 700 companies and organisations supported NCW 2002

Five per cent of events were designed specifically toattract more young women into the industry

2. The NCW 2003 Toolkit, which containsa PR guide, tips on event organisation and NCW 2003 windscreen stickers, willbe available from late June 2003. To receive a free copy organisations shouldregister as a supporter by clicking on Sign Up to 2003 on the home page ofwww.ncw.org.uk