A NEW app is giving young people an amazing insight into what it’s like to get a career in construction.

The Virtual Project Manager app takes young people inside an animated 3D world where they are in charge of building new homes and pupils from Edinburgh’s Leith Academy were joined by apprentices from Sharkey Group and First Call Trade Services to launch the app on Google Play Store.

The free app is part of Virtual Reality Careers in Construction, developed through Skills Development Scotland’s My World of Work Live! programme, with partners the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Heriot-Watt University and Animmersion UK Ltd.

Louise Chisholm, senior programme manager for My World of Work Live! said: “This app immerses young people in a construction environment in a fun and engaging way. We hope it will help open their eyes to the wealth of opportunity the construction industry in Scotland has to offer.

“It’s fitting that we’re launching the app during Scottish Apprenticeship Week, as apprenticeships are a great way into working in a science, technology, engineering or maths industry.”

John Keenan, partnerships manager at CITB Scotland, said: “Virtual Project Manager is an innovative way of capturing young people’s imaginations about the fantastic opportunities a career in construction can provide them with.

“We hope that it will enable users to experience construction and inspire them to get involved.”