A TOTAL of £1m is to be made available to Britain's "brightest and best" graduates looking to move into the construction industry

Students starting university courses this autumn have until Thursday, June 30, to apply for the grant scheme funded by construction employers and ConstructionSkills, the skills council for the industry.

The scheme, Inspire Schol-arships, offers 60 students up to £3,000 a year to help fund their studies.

The programme will also provide scholars with on-site experience with top employers such as Amec Group, Balfour Beatty, Mowlem and Persimmon, as well as the possibility of a permanent job after graduation.

More information and an online application form are is available at www.bconstructive.co.uk/uni

Nicola Thompson, director of communications at Const-ructionSkills, said: "With finances becoming a pressing issue for students, the construction industry has taken a step to ensure the continued flow of talent."

"The £1m this year is just the start. We believe this scheme will help make construction a destination industry for the brightest and best students."