Publish date: 28 October 2025
Local students with additional learning needs visited the site of the new Kingfisher facility recently, to find out more about a career in construction.
Across two days, students from nearby SGS College were given a fully guided tour of the site by project leads, Willmott Dixon – as well as having conversations with different professionals from across the building site.
The Kingfisher is the new specialist mental health facility at Blackberry Hill in Bristol, for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, which is due to open in March 2026. Construction is currently progressing well, with the building expected to be complete by early next year.
As well as being given a tour, students were also given a bricklaying masterclass led by Brennan Sheppard from JG Bricklaying, who are also working on the project. The students were also taken up onto the roof and, under strict health and safety guidance, observed how the crane is operated – they even got the chance to try it out for themselves.
For many students with additional learning needs, finding meaningful work experience or exposure to a live workplace is often a significant challenge. The site visit provided something they had all been searching for – an opportunity to be a part of a live workplace.
It was also a chance to speak to professionals from across the site, who all took time out to speak with the students, sharing insights about their roles and career journeys.
"I want to be a crane supervisor when I finish college", fed back one student, who had no idea this career choice even existed before they visited the site.
The students finished by signing their names into the steel beams that form part of the structure of The Kingfisher, a memento that will stand in perpetuity.
You can watch Willmott Dixon’s video here.
