Holmes Miller has become the first architectural practice to sponsor a school through a new scheme launched by UK education consultancy and social enterprise Class Of Your Own (‘COYO’). For more than a decade, COYO has inspired children and young people to experience the digital Built Environment through the Design Engineer Construct (‘DEC’) Learning Programme. 

The COYO Sponsor scheme invites organisations to join their global mission to ‘Educate the Future of Construction’, supporting DEC teachers’ training and development to ensure the success of their students. 

DEC provides children and young people a unique opportunity to develop the knowledge, competencies, behaviours and skills fundamental to successful engagement in the professional aspects of architecture, engineering and construction. Students advance their digital skills throughout the learning programme, including the use of digital modelling and analysis tools using industry standard software for building and infrastructure design.

Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals, the themes of social, environmental and economic sustainability run throughout the programme, and learners discover how to minimise their own and their community’s impact on the planet through role play and project-based learning. They understand the value of inclusivity and diversity, designing for a world where everyone matters.

Through the sponsorship, Holmes Miller are working closely with DEC teacher Jon Stembridge at Trinity Academy, Edinburgh, assisting a small class of S2 and S3 students as they explore DEC. Whilst COVID has presented challenges, our Holmes Miller team has been able to support the class using Teams and create video modules that are available to the DEC community worldwide.

Holmes Miller Education Director Ryan Holmes is leading our collaboration and said, “It’s amazing to be able to help Jon deliver the DEC curriculum and offer the pupils an insight into this great industry. Hopefully I will be able to play a small part in inspiring and raising the aspirations of these young people to consider Construction and the Built Environment as a valuable career path.”

Ryan is being supported in-house by Craig Heap who enthused about the initiative, “Alison (Watson, CEO of Class of Your Own) and her team have developed an unbelievable learning programme that shares many of the same values as Holmes Miller. It is Alison’s enthusiasm, belief in the power of education and unwavering desire to make the world a better place for our children that made our decision to sponsor Trinity Academy a very easy one!.”

Alison set up Class Of Your Own in 2009 after working with young people across the UK during her time as a land surveyor on the UK Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme. 

“I knew the industry could offer so much more to education; we’re a big family with a lot to give. Supporting DEC teachers through the commitment of really great professionals like Ryan, Craig and HM colleagues helps them help their students. They’re shining a light on our industry in a very personal, approachable way – for me, the best way to reach the next generation. It’s a wonderful thing Holmes Miller is doing, and I hope many more specialists will follow their lead.”