OpenDoors25: A Huge Success!

Last week, Northern Ireland's construction industry celebrated a remarkable achievement, as over 500 visitors from diverse educational backgrounds, as well as members of the public, participated in Build UK’s first Open Doors Week in Northern Ireland.

Pictured L-R: Construction Futures’ Head of Strategic Development, Fionnuala McKenna and Education Engagement Co-Ordinator, Jenni Marshall

Co-ordinated by Construction Futures, the initiative featured more than 35 events across 18 locations, with 15 companies generously opening their doors.

Students, wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests, were given exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of construction sites, factories, and company headquarters. They engaged in hands-on demonstrations, had the chance to operate equipment, and took part in tasks that provided valuable insights into the wide array of roles and responsibilities within the industry.

We were also honoured to welcome representatives from the Department of Education, Department for the Economy, local MLAs, the Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey, the Belfast Lord Mayor, and members of the Northern Ireland Skills Council, who all showed strong support for the initiative.

Open Doors, which has been running across England, Scotland and Wales for the past decade, saw a record-breaking 7000+ visitors UK-wide this year. 

The success of #Open Doors 25 would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the participating companies. A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved from the team at Construction Futures.

We’re excited to build on this success in the coming year and look forward to welcoming more companies to join us in inspiring the next generation of the workforce!