A dozen students from Kirklees College are stepping into the world of civil engineering with a hands-on project led by Jackson Civil Engineering. Using 3D printing, they are recreating a section of the Huddersfield Broad Canal towpath, complete with a working lock mechanism.
A team from Jackson is currently working in the area to improve the towpath on the Huddersfield Broad Canal on behalf of the Canal & River Trust (CRT). This project with Kirklees College is part of Jackson’s commitment to leaving a lasting legacy in the communities where it works and encourage the study of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
The project – called CanalWorks 3D – kicked off in the classroom last month, when a Jackson team visited the students and talked to them about careers opportunities in civil engineering, and the scope of the canal towpath improvement works.
The students then visited the work site on the banks of the canal: measuring, sketching, and photographing details while seeing engineers in action and experiencing first-hand how an infrastructure project like this comes together.
A few weeks later, back at college, students refined their models with guidance from guest consultants Matt Ives, Senior Engineer at the CRT and Neil Tissington, a director from local ground engineering firm Central Alliance, alongside the Jackson team.
The students tackled real engineering challenges, iterated designs, and applied CAD and 3D printing skills. The enthusiasm shown by the students was really special, as they set about tackling practical problems just like professional engineers.
The project concludes on Friday December 12 with a final presentation to a panel of experts, including a team from Jackson, Matt from CRT, and Neil from Central Alliance. The students’ single collaborative model will showcase their skills, teamwork, and creativity, highlighting the power of industry and education working together to inspire the next generation of engineers.
To find out more about Engineering at Kirklees College, and to apply for one of our Engineering courses starting in September 2026, click here.