SCHOOL-ON-SITE

During the twelve years Veidekke has run School-on-Site, over one hundred skilled workers have been trained and have since started as interns in different companies in the construction industry.

The construction industry attracts only a small percentage of potential new employees every year, particularly in vocational subjects. An alternative offer to secure an adequate future workforce is therefore needed. School-on-Site contributes to recruiting apprentices into the industry and to Veidekke. By providing the long-term unemployed and those who have fallen outside the mainstream educational system a second chance, it creates a win-win situation for the industry, new employees and society as a whole. The target audience is "adult youth" aged 19-40 years with no vocational training and who are NAV registered.

An eventful school year

Training runs for 40 weeks and takes place on a construction project. Students receive an education equal to a two-year degree in building and construction technique. In addition to concrete, practical exercises, students perform tasks related to leveling, masonry, framing and scaffolding, and those who have not completed their general education fulfill it in an adult education environment. Through cooperation with the industry organisation Entreprenørforeningen - Bygg og Anlegg (EBA), students on our part are placed in relevant companies where they get good contact with prospective employers.

The school year concludes with a three-day exam coordinated with other schools in Oslo. Compared with students from other schools, School-on-Site students score far above average on exams. After completing the course, all students have the opportunity to begin an apprenticeship with one of the companies affiliated with EBA. Competence is then shared between all the involved companies.

Many success stories

This year's group is located in Nydalen in Oslo where Veidekke Entreprenør is currently building Nydalen high school. The 20 students who began in August 2009, finish the program in June 2010, and will then be recruited into the concrete trade. Through the autumn, the Nydalen students have received in-class teaching at the construction office and have carried out practical work from which they acquired the necessary skills to be able to contribute on the Nydalen project throughout the winter. Cooperating with EBA means that all of the key contractors follow the school's development and make available their teaching places to students.

School-on-Site, has had a great impact on many students over the years. Around 2/3 of the students have a foreign cultural background, and the programme has shown that it opens doors and provides easier entry into work life for people who have experienced challenges in getting started again. While School-on-Site generates clear social benefits, Veidekke is impressed with the students' efforts on building sites, and is proud of the measurable results.