Building tomorrow's Britain offers bright career prospects for both sexes says West Wales-based Midas Construction. And the company is playing a major role in the drive to attract young people to the construction industry.

As part of this year's National Construction Week, the company is arranging for interested young people to visit the site of a major new school at Haverfordwest and learn more about the industry. Organised in conjunction with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), two groups of 14 and 15-year-olds will visit the site of a new £3 million Roman Catholic school in the town, learn about health and safety and the opportunities available to them in building.

The children, who are all following GCSE/GNVQ studies in construction, will be from Greenhill School, Tenby, and Cardigan Comprehensive School.

Last year, almost 69,000 young people took part in this nationwide event and this year promises to be even bigger and better.

Gareth Reynolds, divisional manager in West Wales for Midas, said: "This will be an excellent opportunity for the youngsters to see the new school and to be able to ask questions about how it is being built."

New school building is a theme of this year's National Construction Week (NCW) and also an important part of Midas' work in Wales, and around the UK.

"We have completed a school in the Swansea Valley and recently started work on a major school extension at Bridgend. As a company we have an expertise in this area, and that fits in well with the events of the week," added Mr. Reynolds. Roger Silvester, of CITB, said: "We are delighted that Midas is playing such an important part in National Construction Week. This series of events is one of our key tools in highlighting the opportunities available to young people." A report earlier this year by the Construction Skills Network, forecasts that by 2010, the industry will need 348,000 more employees - an average of 87,000 recruits a year. Research also shows that two thirds of girls between the ages of 11- and 18 were convinced there was a strong gender bias in the industry.

"NCW is part of the wider campaign to change this and attract youngsters to the industry, and provides a platform for employers to reach future recruits," added Mr. Silvester.