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1st Apr 2026
This March, Construction students from Abingdon & Witney College have been taking part in an unforgettable international work experience programme, funded through the UK Government’s Turing Scheme, with placements in St Lucia and Spain.
The Turing Scheme is the Government’s flagship programme supporting students and learners to study and work abroad. The scheme enables education providers to offer life‑changing international opportunities that enhance employability, build confidence and develop key personal and professional skills in an increasingly global workforce.
Learners gained invaluable hands-on experience in their chosen trades while immersing themselves in new cultures and ways of life.
Head of Faculty for Construction, Neil Benjamin-Miller explained “These overseas placements are helping students develop professional skills, confidence and independence, while broadening their horizons and offering a truly global perspective on their future careers.”
Learning beyond the classroom in St Lucia
A highlight of the placement was a visit to Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, St Lucia’s only college, which supports more than 4,000 students from across the island. The visit provided valuable insight into the college’s rich history as well as vocational and academic learning in a different country, allowing students to learned about compare facilities, approaches and pathways with their own experiences in the UK.
Giving back to the community
As a meaningful way to give back, students were invited to take part in the Miles for Smiles Saint Lucia charity challenge, in support of United Through Sport. The challenge involved a 5km run followed by a 1km sea swim and raised an impressive £2,043 for the charity.
Being part of something bigger than themselves made the challenge particularly special for our students and reinforced the importance of community engagement alongside professional development.
Real life construction in St Lucia
After just seven days on placement, our construction students started working on the build of luxury, high-end apartments at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa, an oceanfront development, being delivered in partnership with Blueprint Construction Ltd, alongside a wide range of local specialist trades. Students had the opportunity to work with stone masons, tilers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC engineers, and painters, gaining first-hand experience of a live, high-end commercial build.
Students impressed contractors across the site with their work ethic and professionalism. Work continued with a master craftsman stone mason and tiler. Students confidently demonstrated their tiling techniques while working in temperatures of around 26 degrees, showing resilience, focus and enthusiasm that continue to impress everyone involved.
Building confidence on and off site
The experience extends far beyond the construction site. Students are becoming part of the local community, with some attending Sunday Mass at St Joseph Catholic Church in Gros Islet during the third Sunday of Lent.
They are also developing independence through budgeting and financial planning, food shopping and cooking, learning to swim, and engaging confidently with hotel staff and guests. From a skills perspective, the placement is bringing theory to life, strengthening communication in a professional, multicultural environment while developing teamwork, collaboration and personal responsibility.
An experience to build on
This truly is international placement at its best, combining learning, friendship, challenge and personal growth, both on and off the construction site.
A huge thank you goes to everyone involved in making this experience possible, and to the students themselves, who have represented their families, their college and their communities with professionalism, pride and enthusiasm.
Saqib Hussain, Level 2 Electrical Installation Student, shared:
“Living and working in a different country pushed me out of my comfort zone in ways I didn’t expect. From managing day-to-day life and budgeting to adapting to a new environment, it taught me a lot about independence and responsibility.
What really made the experience special was the people. Sharing it with my classmates created a real sense of teamwork and togetherness. From working side by side on site to spending time together outside of work, we built friendships and memories that I know will stay with me for a long time.”
Case Study: Gaining a Spanish perspective on Construction
Construction students have also completed an intensive international industry placement in Jerez, Spain, gaining first-hand experience of live construction environments while developing advanced technical and professional skills.
The placement marked a significant milestone in the students’ development, representing their formal induction into the Spanish construction industry. Having previously completed placement experiences in the UK, the move to Spain provided an opportunity to work within a different regulatory, operational, and cultural framework - broadening technical understanding and offering valuable insight into international construction practices.
Throughout the placement, the student worked full-time on a live construction site, operating to professional site hours and contributing directly to ongoing projects. This experience bridged the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, allowing the student to move from studying technical drawings to executing them on site. Responsibilities included interpreting complex structural blueprints and floor plans, assessing masonry integrity, supporting site logistics, and ensuring safety and precision across daily operations.
A key feature of the placement was the use of professional surveying equipment in a live environment. The students gained hands-on experience with tools such as Topcon rotary laser levels, using them to establish accurate site levels and ensure structural elements aligned precisely with design specifications. This practical exposure strengthened technical confidence and reinforced the importance of accuracy in surveying and planning roles.
Beyond technical skills, the placement offered a powerful lesson in adaptability and communication. Working alongside a local Spanish construction crew required the students to navigate language barriers using translation tools to discuss site specifications, measurements, and safety requirements. This cross-cultural collaboration highlighted that clear communication is just as critical to successful project delivery as technical precision - an insight that will prove invaluable in future roles within the built environment.
The experience also extended to broader site operations, including the opportunity to operate construction machinery under supervision. Combined with long site hours and fast-paced project demands, the placement helped build resilience, professionalism, and a strong work ethic aligned with industry expectations.
Uthman, a Design, Surveying, and Planning (DSP) T‑Level student credits the opportunity to the support and vision of the Construction faculty:
“Without their support and the college's vision for industry placements, I wouldn't have had this life-changing chance to gain these advanced technical skills on an international stage. From mastering laser levels on live sites to navigating cross-cultural communication, this experience is shaping my future in ways I never imagined.
I’m incredibly proud to represent my college and bring these global insights back to the UK industry!”
Returning to the UK, the students brings with them a strengthened technical skill set, international experience, and renewed motivation to progress toward a professional career in Construction.