A group of 3rd and 4th year secondary education students have visited the FCC Construcción Machinery Park facilities in Madrid, as part of the ‘Companies that Inspire’ project, an initiative of the Bertelsmann Foundation that seeks to bring the business world closer to young people to awaken vocations and encourage direct contact with the work environment.

This activity, developed jointly by FCC Construcción and the Bertelsmann Foundation, aims to promote innovative teaching methodologies that allow students to learn first-hand about the reality of different professional sectors. The visit is part of the foundation's educational volunteering strategy, aimed at inspiring and guiding young people in their choice of academic and professional future.

During the day, the students were able to learn in detail how the FCC Construcción Machinery Park works, observing and discovering the professions linked to both the maintenance and operation of specialised equipment and innovation in the use of machinery such as tunnel boring machines, movable scaffolding, floating dams, cable cranes and track machinery, as well as other more common equipment such as aggregate plants, , asphalt and concrete plants, pavers, tower cranes and various auxiliary equipment.

This experience not only allowed the students to familiarise themselves with key technologies and processes in the construction sector, but also gave them the opportunity to interact with professionals in the field, learn about their careers and discover possible professional opportunities in a dynamic and innovative environment.

FCC Construcción and the Bertelsmann Foundation reaffirm their commitment to the comprehensive training of young people, promoting the development of skills and abilities which, together with the theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom, help to prepare future professionals to face the challenges of today's labour market. 

Furthermore, the activities of companies that inspire are very much in line with the Career Readiness strategy promoted by the OECD, on professional guidance, and contribute to reversing the curve of professional misalignment with respect to the choices of young people. 

In this sense, the impact of this type of action is very positive for all those involved and contributes directly to the fulfilment of several objectives for achieving the SDGs, specifically 4, 8 and 17, which aim to strengthen the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, by fostering collaboration between educational centres and companies. According to the OECD, having experiences in professional contexts during secondary school has a very positive impact on young people's future careers. 

By promoting these experiences, the initiative contributes to (SDG 4) offering students opportunities for practical and relevant learning, improving the quality of education and preparing young people for future work challenges. (SDG 8) facilitate the transition of students to the labour market through internships and collaborations that promote youth employment and decent work and (SDG 17) establish effective partnerships between the education sector and the business sector, sharing knowledge, resources and technologies to achieve common goals.