An interview with Tony Burton, Partner at Gardiner & Theobald.
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The Class of Your Own (COYO) programme launched in 2013 and as a career influencing programme is completely unique.
The practical based qualification, targeted at 14-16 year olds, and supported by industry partners has bridged the gap between education and industry as well as providing a brilliant opportunity for young people to learn about construction and related professions early on in the career decision making process.
Tony Burton, current Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and partner at Gardiner & Theobald, was an early champion of the scheme and now oversees the sponsorship of a school in Chingford, North London on behalf of his firm.
Why does COYO capture the imagination?
“I’ve always been passionate about the construction industry having enjoyed a long and varied career. I would like to pass on this message to the next generation so that they can fully understand the opportunities on offer.
With the pace of technological change ahead the future is incredibly exciting for construction careers and it is this message that I want to communicate to the next generation.”
Tony Burton
Amid reports of a skills shortage over the next 10-20 years and real concerns that construction projects will suffer due the lacks of necessary skills, this initiative is very timely.
Without a steady pipeline of young talent the built environment sector will struggle to keep pace. However, this issue is also firmly on Tony’s radar;
“It is absolutely vital that we, as an industry ,align ourselves closely with the education sector and professional bodies, to ensure that the skills are in place for the future of the built environment.
For me it is the ‘legacy’ of the Class of Your Own programme that is particularly exciting. To think that your intervention could possibly spark the interest of the next CEO of a construction firm is particularly rewarding.”
Tony Burton
By committing 10 days of volunteer time over two years, and £12k over a two-year period, employers, professional bodies and universities can support a course that will continue to influence young people on careers and opportunities in the industry for years to come.
That is the legacy and any organisation involved in construction and property can participate.
Giving something back
Tony believes that this is a way of giving something back to a profession that he is personally very proud of.
“When I look back over my career I can think of many examples of how construction professionals have changed people lives. This makes me incredibly proud.
For example – early in my career at Gardiner and Theobald we worked on the refurb of a local maternity ward. This enabled the hospital to cope with the demands and ensure the health and safety needs of the maternity unit were met. This had a real tangible effect on the community and something I will always remember as it gave me a great feeling to think that the project would help so many people.
As well as public sector projects I’ve also worked on aviation projects, the construction of offices, residential schemes, museums and art galleries, community projects and large scale infrastructure – literally building bridges across countries and shaping the world. This is what I want to get across to young people. They too will have a chance to shape the world around them.”
Tony Burton
Building London’s skyline
Tony has also been involved in seeing the beginnings of some of the great icons of London.
“I’ve been around at some pivotal moments in the capital’s recent history. For example – the London Eye. One day I was with David Marks, who was sketching towers and Ferris wheels in his notepad. He wanted to design something for the millennium where people could have fun!
This was the birth of the London eye and I was there! I was personally involved in costing the project up. We had to think about how much steel was required and where the pods could be sourced from. It was a fantastic experience. No other professional can boast this kind of impact they can make on the world.”
Tony Burton
But back to Class of Your Own and the next generation. Tony is now set on a course, and through CIC has tasked all the construction professions to do the same, to communicate the benefit of the “sponsor a school” scheme.
“You only have speak to the children on the course to see and feel the enthusiasm they have!”
Tony Burton
To learn more about sponsoring a local school visit Design…Engineer…Construct!
