Creating opportunities in construction for the next generation

For those considering their career choices or just starting out, getting a first foot on the ladder of their chosen path is vital, and that’s something we place a huge significance on through our work with SCAPE.

We’re passionate about giving people the opportunity to explore a career in our sector and in the past 12 months alone, over 140 people have kicked off their construction industry experience through our SCAPE projects.

Our teams working on the SCAPE Minor Works framework have been engaging with young people up and down the country at a number of careers fairs and recruitment events. For example, over 280 sixth-formers attended a careers event in Doncaster that we exhibited at, with a large number very interested in the prospects a role in the built environment could give them. We also attended a similar event for University students in the West of England, where we helped a number of them find work experience placements suited to their skill sets.

These are just some examples of the engagement work we do with SCAPE and we’ve also had some great success stories of people who have begun their careers with us, delivering vital local projects through the framework.

Annie Flynn initially began working with us on a summer placement programme and enjoyed it so much, she’s now a full-time apprentice with our SCAPE team. Her role focuses on project management while she completes her course in Business Support and she’s been doing some fantastic social value work on our SCAPE project at Beavers Primary School, Hounslow.

Ex service personnel have also been helped to explore new opportunities through our work with SCAPE. People like Sam Hefferman, who first made contact with Kier at the Bristol Career Transition Partnership ex-service event held earlier this year. Displaying a keen interest in computer aided design and Building Information Modelling (BIM), Sam enrolled on a work placement with our design team and is due back with us later his year, with the aim of joining our trainee programme.

Through our work with SCAPE, last year we created over 350 new opportunities for individuals to find employment, and a further 200 more have enhanced their skill set from a work experience placement with ourselves and SCAPE. We’re encouraged by the positive feedback at careers fairs and work experience placements and we’re looking forward to building on this with SCAPE over the next 12 months.