Students enjoyed an 'exciting' sneak peek of the renovation work at the former Palmer's store in Great Yarmouth.

The building is being transformed into a £17m library, university and learning hub called The Place.

Morgan Sindall Construction, which is carrying out the work on behalf of Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC), has agreed a new two-year partnership with East Norfolk Sixth Form College to give job placements to students.

Fifteen T-Level pupils from East Norfolk Sixth Form College and 25 brickwork students from East Coast College visited the site.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Students were shown around the former Palmers building in Great Yarmouth which is being renovated as a £17m library and learning hub. Students were shown around the former Palmers building in Great Yarmouth which is being renovated as a £17m library and learning hub. (Image: Morgan Sindall Construction)

READ MORE: Palmers - What is the plan, and when will it be finished?

They were given a tour and learned about the additional considerations around the project regarding health and safety, carbon capture and modern methods of construction. 

The East Coast College brickwork students will be returning to the site throughout the year to get hands-on experience assisting in the renovation of the external masonry and brickwork. 

Amber Wells, one of the two students from East Norfolk Sixth Form College to be offered a placement with Morgan Sindall, said: “The visit was really interesting. Listening to the team explain what they are doing on the old Palmers site was very exciting.

"It’s sometimes hard to visualise in the classroom, so being able to come and see the work brings it to life and confirms this is definitely the industry I want to work in.” 

READ MORE: Take a look inside Great Yarmouth's former Palmers store

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Morgan Sindall Construction has agreed a new two-year partnership with East Norfolk Sixth Form College to deliver job opportunities and placements for students. Morgan Sindall Construction has agreed a new two-year partnership with East Norfolk Sixth Form College to deliver job opportunities and placements for students. (Image: Morgan Sindall Construction)

Rachel Bunn, East Coast College’s director of commercial employer and community partnerships, said: ‘’It was fantastic to have the chance to send students to see modern methods of construction in action.

"The Place will be an exciting hub of learning for the community and we are delighted to be a leading partner in the development."

The 5,300 sqm, five-storey building in the town’s Market Place first opened as a drapers in 1837 and is being transformed as part of wider plans to assemble all relevant learning and training functions in a single building in the town centre.