CORNERSTONE NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2026
Published 25 August 2026 at 1:54pm
Esh Construction launched its Interactive Learning Zone at Skills Street, located at Gulliver's Valley Theme Park, marking a major milestone in Esh's collaborative investment into social value across Yorkshire.
Skills Street is an innovative and immersive careers learning experience delivered by Gulliver's Valley Theme Parks in partnership with The Work-wise Foundation, aiming to inspire children, young people, and adults from across Yorkshire and beyond. Visitors get the chance to learn about the diverse career opportunities available across a multitude of different sectors.
As the first employer partner to join Skills Street, Esh merged its award-winning employability and careers programmes – Stay Safe, Get into STEM, and Construction in the Curriculum – into one engaging space.
Megan Simpson, Social Value Manager at Esh Construction, said: “Having a single space for all our programmes is excellent, especially given our consistent efforts to deliver meaningful and lasting social value in the local community. The room has already allowed us to engage and inspire the next generation, demonstrating the range of opportunities available to them in construction.”
Esh Construction's zone at Skills Street recently saw record numbers of school-aged learners interacting with its Construction in the Curriculum and Get into STEM activities across June and July. Over 1,700 primary and secondary students in June, and a further 1,200 in July, explored hands-on learning and engaged in activities that altered their perception of the construction industry, bringing careers learning to life.
The Esh Interactive Learning Zone features a range of engaging activities, including Dudley's Site Cabin, where visitors can dress as construction workers and learn about site safety; the Esh Living Site, which challenges teams to build to client specifications; and the Retrofit Tri Station, where sustainable technologies are brought to life through interactive science lessons. The space also includes an immersive technology sand pit for planning river embankments.
A teacher from Nexus Academy Trust commented: “We saw some real success in the construction room, with students taking on designated roles within a team and working together to solve problems. This felt like a real step change in their career's education”.
James Beighton, Development Lead at Skills Street, said: “Our partnership with Esh Construction has enabled us to change perceptions of a critical sector for the UK economy. Now, more than ever, we have to inspire people earlier in their learning journey to highlight the breadth of opportunity across construction and associated industries.
“There is such a national skills need across technical disciplines and a whole world of career pathways that people just don't see. The practical activities within the Esh zone at Skills Street help people to relate classroom learning to industry and ultimately make an informed decision on their future.”
The Interactive Learning Zone demonstrates Esh's commitment to delivering lasting social value and equipping young people with the skills they need for the future, proving the power of partnership.