University of York students gain hands-on experience in sustainable construction at Wernick

29th October 2024
Image of university students at wernick

Students from the University of York‘s MSc in Sustainable Business, Environment, and Society recently visited Wernick Refurbished Buildings’ factory and offices in York. This visit provided an invaluable opportunity for the students to gain real-world insights into the modular building refurbishment process and the role it plays in promoting sustainability within the construction industry.

As part of their “Sustainable Business in a Global Context” module, students engage in collaborative projects with industry partners, using the Harvard Case Study Methodology to tackle real-world business challenges. This approach encourages students to apply their skills, knowledge and leadership values to promote more sustainable business practices. Wernick and the university are developing a unique case study on net zero initiatives and sustainability marketing in the construction sector, offering the students mentorship and real-world feedback on sustainable business problem-solving.

Image of students in the yard

The visit began with an introduction and short presentation from the Wernick sustainability team. Managing Director Alan Barnes, then provided an in-depth overview of Wernick Refurbished Buildings and its operations. Following the presentation, the students toured the factory, witnessing firsthand the entire modular building manufacturing and refurbishment process, from start to finish.

After the tour, the students were given a practical challenge: to devise a creative solution for promoting a Wernick project involving the reuse of modular units procured from Heathrow Airport for a HS2 project. The scenario asked the students to develop their strategy using minimal in-house resources and manpower, encouraging innovative thinking around sustainability marketing. This experience enabled the students to explore practical solutions to sustainability challenges facing businesses, industries and communities today.

The partnership between Wernick and the University of York continues to grow, with Wernick having welcomed three interns from the university over the past two years. Both parties look forward to further strengthening this relationship in the future.

A big thank you to everyone involved in making this visit a success!

I am grateful to Wernick for providing this opportunity for students to better understand complex sustainability challenges facing the construction sector across the UK and beyond. Working in a fast-paced and real-time environment, the Wernick team allowed the students to engage in a lively discussion and consider their net zero strategy proposal for their stakeholders and business practices. It is important for students to engage in case studies in collaboration with industry partners such as Wernick, to gain valuable feedback, insight and mentorship as we prepare our students to become leaders in sustainable business.

Sahar Hofmann
Lecturer and Module Convenor at the University of York