Sacyr UK is working with the National Diversity Employment and Advisory Service (NDEAS) to help support people who are out of work due to a disability into construction careers.
The Construction Disability Inclusion Academy – believed to be a UK first – will be launched at the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) in Wales.
The academy will help up to 12 people access pathways to careers in the industry.
The nVCC, which is being delivered by Sacyr UK, is scheduled to open in spring 2027. When complete, it will be almost twice the size of the current cancer centre and will operate as one of the largest radiotherapy units in the UK.
At least one of the trainees from the Construction Disability Inclusion Academy will get a job with Sacyr UK on the nVCC project at the end of a two-week course.
The academy is open to anyone with a disability, as the project site is fully accessible.
Tackling the skills shortage
Katie Hathaway, stakeholder engagement and community benefits manager at Sacyr UK, said: “Social value is a key part of our project work here at the new Velindre Cancer Centre, and we are so pleased to be opening the doors to the first cohort of this academy.
“We have a serious shortage of skills in the construction industry, so excluding great swathes of the population due to a disability just doesn’t make sense to us. That’s why we invested in the accessible lift to ensure that anyone who works on site can get access to all areas.”
Hathaway added: “What is also great is that a lot of our supply chain and subcontractors are also keen to learn more, so hopefully there will be lots of employment opportunities for our academy trainees.”
Following the launch of the Construction Disability Inclusion Academy, an academy focusing on careers in healthcare is also planned, as well as an Entrepreneurship Academy for those with business ideas they want to develop. This academy will offer insight into how to run a business, as well as the opportunity to receive grant funding upon completion of the course.
To apply for the Construction Disability Inclusion Academy, and to hear about the launch of future academies, visit: www.ndeas.co.uk.
