Lewis Partnership delighted to join Next Steps project

The go-ahead firm of Llanelli architects, the Lewis Partnership Ltd, has played a key role in the Next Steps project– a unique competition to find a new building apprentice for Carmarthenshire.
The Next Steps project has seen six youngs boys competing against each other to win an apprenticeship with Gwendraeth-based building firm Lloyd & Gravell Ltd.
The competition winner was Thornton Boswell, of Felinfoel, Llanelli, who recently picked up his GCSE results from Bryngwyn School.
While competing for the coveted job, the six boys worked together as a team to complete a project that would benefit the community and leave a lasting legacy.
The project was to create a safari themed sensory garden at Llanelli’s Heol Goffa School to benefit children with special needs.
The project was designed by the Lewis Parnership.
Managing director Philip Lewis said: “The courtyard design included a sensory space, new equipment, a sand pit, a quiet retreat and a water feature. The sensory garden included tactile surfaces and colourful equipment to stimulate the senses of the children at the school Hopefully, the boys enjoyed building it. I know the work will be greatly appreciated by Heol Goffa School.
“As a leading firm of South Wales architects, with our headquarters here in Llanelli, we were delighted to be associated with the Next Steps project. It is a very innovative competition and is very important in encouraging new people into the building industry.”
The winner, Thornton Boswell, said he was ‘over the moon’ to have won the competition.
“I really didn’t expect to win – I’m really happy. Chances like this don’t come around often for young boys like me.”
Next Steps is an annual competition run in partnership by Carmarthenshire County Council, Coleg Sir Gâr and Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association Ltd in association with Lloyd & Gravell Ltd.
It is the first year that the Next Steps competition has involved a community-based project.
Kevin Gravell, of Lloyd and Gravell, said: “As a company we try and give back as much as we can to our communities, and our own staff had already identified the sensory garden at Heol Goffa as a worthwhile project which they wanted to do in their own free time.
“The timing fitted in perfectly with the Next Steps project, and we are thrilled to be able to give the boys such a great project to do as part of the competition.
“To their credit, every one of them has been excited to get involved and they all realise that the work they are carrying out for free throughout the summer holidays will benefit the children of Heol Goffa School greatly.”
While on-site, the competitors took part in a series of challenges to test their skills in carpentry, bricklaying and plastering in a bid to win a reward – and avoid a forfeit.
Weblinks - www.constructingcarmarthenshiretogether.co.uk and www.lloydandgravell.co.uk
http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk
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The Lewis Partnership of architects was founded in 1995 by partners of established architectural firms based in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Bridgend. The firm has a wide knowledge of the design and project management of a wide variety of building types, and draws on the experience of chartered architects and a complimentary technical and secretarial staff. Projects are prepared and completed using high-tech Autocad computer-aided design The company has gained accreditation to the International Quality Assurance Standard BS EN ISO 9001 : 2000. During 2007, the company gained RIBA Chartered status. The company is one of Carmarthenshire Council’s preferred Architectural Practices in their Building Control Partnering Scheme. The company is based at No13 Park Crescent, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA15 3AE. Telephone 01554 777998.