E Turner & Sons / Rumney High School Link In 1995 we decided that we should attempt to establish an industry / education link with a local school. Having been founded over one hundred years we felt that we needed to put something back into the community which had provided us with the majority of our work force over this period of time. We saw the link as a means of using our time and expertise in helping to foster better relationships with children who could be our potential work force. The school was approached and the Headmaster and staff were very enthusiastic to this concept and declared their willingness "give it a go". The first project was based on our contract to construct a new Harry Ramsdens Fish and Chip Restaurant in Cardiff Bay and this proved a resounding success with virtually every subject in the core curriculum giving an input. It was next decided to set up "Turner Achievement Award Certificate" (see above) which we as employers would be looking for in prospective employees. Whilst GCSE or similar certificates would tell us about the pupils academic achievements it gives us no information about attitude, commitment, punctuality, attendance etc. We incorporated these into the award and the school agreed to administrate and monitor the progress of the pupils throughout the year. In the first year some 80 pupils gained the Turner Achievement Award and this increased dramatically the following year when 150 certificates were awarded at a special ceremony held at the school to which parents of the recipients were invited to attend. It is hoped that over 200 awards will be made in the next academic year and they have now become highly prized by both pupils and parents.       Mr Keith Davies (Turner & Sons Safety and Training Manager) presents another prestigious Turner Achievement Award. Celebrating success at a recent Turner Award Ceremony Last year, we held a Construction Careers Evening at the school where some 16 Turner personnel gave up their time to attend and outline the trades and professional disciplines which were available in construction. Following this evening it was decided that it would be better to promote Construction if we could get pupils to see it through the eyes of other children and to that end we decided to produce a video in conjunction with the school. We gave them a broad-brush scenario of what we felt was required and then left it to them to script, produce direct and assist in the editing of the video. Eight pupils from the Media Studies group with their teacher Jackie Withers, starred in the video entitled "The Building Game" and which lasts for just over eight minutes. We engaged a professional company from Cardiff to shoot and generally edit this video. At a recent ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff we were formally presented with a copy of the completed video. It is planned to offer copies of the video to other schools to show what can be done when industry and education combine in what should be a mutually beneficial project. We plan to enter the video in this years Business in the Community Awards which, if successful, would result in a certificate for both Turner and Rumney High School and also a cash award of £500 for the school. This Year we have initiated the "Turner Challenge (see above) as well as providing both academic and hands-on building experience the completed building will be put to practical use. We propose to provide rain gauges plus a min / max thermometer to enable climatic variations to be logged and provide, in time, useful weather statistics which could be used both by the school and other organisations such as construction companies who need to know weather trends in particular areas where they are contemplating building or holding outdoor events. It is also envisaged that the building would be used for environmental studies which will prove a long term benefit to the school and pupils. In 1997 we were awarded the prestigious Business in the Community "Aim High" certificate as Welsh Regional Winners in the category for curriculum development. In respect of our work with Rumney High School, Keith Davies our Safety and Training Manager has been instrumental in establishing and maintaining this link and has been co-opted onto the board of governors. We have also established links with Meadow Lane Primary / Junior School where we are to help produce a talent show called Turner "Stars in your Eyes" early next year. Turner sponsor students at Pontypridd College of Further Education and at the present time have three of their students carrying out a months work experience on our building sites. One of the former students of the college who we sponsored has recently joined us as a Trainee Estimator. An undergraduate at the University of Glamorgan is doing his year out placement with Turner in various departments within the company and another undergraduate is basing his dissertation on our work with Rumney High School and the pupils' attitude towards construction. Year 10 Work Experience Two Year 10 pupils recently undertook a successful two weeks placement with Turner & Sons. A realistic experience of work was provided by our industrial partner.