A new multi-million pound Student Village Construction began on the university’s Leek Road site this summer.

Over the next two years Willmott Dixon Construction will engage in a variety of community activities throughout the project.

As part of this, the company is engaging children at Woodlands Day Nursery in development on their doorstep with a range of fun and educational activities.

This month they’ve created a ‘kids construction site’ with toy diggers and hands-on learning activities to help children understand the nuts and bolts of construction. The company also donated a variety of construction-related books for babies and toddlers.

Children also donned hard hats and safety jackets to learn about the excavators from one of the builders on site, and some had the chance to sit in the excavator’s cab.

Amanda Sherratt, Head of Childcare and Family Services at Staffordshire University, said: “A partnership like this adds incredible value to our children and the wider community. By involving young minds in the ongoing construction project, we are not only sparking early interest in careers such as construction and engineering, but also We also create fun, hands-on experiences that enhance learning.

“The children loved exploring the construction-themed activities and seeing real machines in action. “It is so rewarding to see how the Student Village project has been brought to life for our little ones and we are grateful for Willmott Dixon’s commitment to making a lasting impact in such meaningful ways.”

Wilmott Dixon Information Controller Jess Greig recently joined the children as a mystery reader and read ‘Big Yellow Digger’, one of the construction themed books.

“We aim to develop a lasting interest in construction and its amenities through event days including excavation demonstrations, donating construction-related materials and engaging with our supply chain to help create new spaces such as an orchard and a children’s allotment. it can be relevant for their future and encourage sustainable practices from an early age while having a lot of fun!

Willmott Dixon plans to continue collaborating with Woodlands Day Nursery throughout the Student Village project.

The project is a collaboration between the University and Staffordshire Campus Life: a partnership formed by Hochtief PPP Solutions UK and Ireland and Plenary and supported by Pinnacle Group, Wilmott Dixon Construction and Corstorphine and Wright.