Our Strengths

TASTER TENTS
On school projects we like to take the opportunity to “give something back” to the school community and build links between our site activity and the school curriculum. Construction taster tents are one of the key ways in which we do this.  

After a health and safety briefing, students are given the opportunity to try their hands at a range of construction trade skills such as plastering, brick laying, plumbing, carpentry or block paving. Our site teams get huge pleasure in seeing how thrilled  youngsters are with their achievements.
  
It’s a fun and rewarding day for everyone but it also introduces the construction industry as a career option and reinforces important messages about site safety.  

In 2007 we won a South London Business Award for Excellence in Training and Development for this initiative which has been rolled out to mainstream schools and also a school for children with special needs.

EDUCATION LIAISON OFFICERS  
Marshmallows and spaghetti - not a new school menu but tools of the trade for our Education Liaison Officers who use them to illustrate why structures don’t fall down!  

Their role is to integrate our construction activity with the needs and wishes of the school and its curriculum. Working under the motto “what can we do for you?” rather than “this is what we do” they get fantastic results.  

As well as our construction skills taster tents, they can organise a variety of fun exercises appropriate to relevant age-groups such as design your ideal school, how to build a house, the story of bricks, architectural principles or how to plan and programme a major project.  

Along the way, they offer careers advice and guidance and promote the great variety of secure and fulfilling opportunities available in the world of construction.

INNOVATION  
With an Education Consultant on board who was formerly a Head Teacher and a School Inspector, Mansell is in an unrivalled position to contribute innovative yet practical ideas to the design process.  
Just a few of the features that we’ve incorporated in our projects include:  

• Anti-vandal measures for corridors, toilets and social areas as well as specially designed windows developed in collaboration with our supplier
• Pinboard or cork cladding on walls to maximise display space as well as to provide insulation and improve acoustics
• Sensitive use of colour and white phosphorous lighting to enhance and calm the school environment
• CCTV and electronically operated fire doors to assist with safety and supervision

Ideas such as these can make huge improvements to the time and cost of maintenance, the overall running efficiency of the school and, above all, the comfort and safety of pupils and staff.