More than 400 young people in London are being helped to build a career in the built environment thanks to a major social mobility programme funded by the Construction Workers Charitable Trust (formerly B&CE Charitable Trust).
This latest funding builds on previous donations to CYT. Since 2011, CYT has awarded more than £160,000 to programmes that include immersive sessions centred on built environment careers, as well as intensive courses supporting young people to access qualifications such as the Level 1 Health & Safety award.
The CYT’s Pathways programme is aimed at tackling the barriers that disadvantaged and underrepresented young people face in entering the careers being offered by industry. The programme also helps address the industry’s widespread skills shortages, as well as attracting the next generation of young and diverse talent at a time when representation from lower-income backgrounds remains low across the construction workforce.
Social mobility in the UK is becoming increasingly constrained, with nearly a million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), and those from disadvantaged backgrounds disproportionately affected.
Helping 400 disadvantaged young people
CYT’s delivery of the current programme is already exceeding previous years, with demand continuing to grow. To date, the charity has partnered with 34 London schools and engaged more than 400 young people – up from 312 last year – with more than 90% coming from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds.
Participants have been supported by more than 200 industry volunteers, and more than 150 young people have completed five-day industry work experience placements, alongside employer insight days and recruitment events as they progress towards job and apprenticeship applications.
Speaking about funding the Pathways programme, Nicola Sinclair, who heads the Construction Workers Charitable Trust, said: “Nearly a million young people are currently disconnected from education or work, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face disproportionately higher barriers to opportunity. For industries like construction and the built environment, which face long-term skills shortages, the answer lies in high-quality, employer-led pathways that prioritise long-term career progression.
“By investing time in meaningful training and high-level qualifications, young people can be supported into sustainable careers that they remain committed to. Construction Youth Trust’s Pathways programme demonstrates the value of walking alongside individuals throughout their journey, helping them build skills and confidence to carve out clear career trajectories.
“Crucially, getting young people into stable work early also enables them to start saving into a workplace pension, allowing them to start building strong financial foundations for life.”
Transformational investment
CYT chief executive, Carol Lynch, added: “We are so grateful for the support of Construction Workers Charitable Trust and deeply appreciative of its support over 15 fantastic years. Its backing has made such a significant difference, enabling us to support many more disadvantaged young people to access careers and opportunities in the construction industry they may otherwise have missed out on.
“The Trust’s recent investment in our Pathways programme has been transformational. It has helped us to develop a model we believe is a genuine gamechanger, both in the short term and as a long-term driver of social mobility, by supporting more disadvantaged people to benefit directly from professional jobs and apprenticeships in the industry. We are thrilled with what we have accomplished together and look forward to building on this success.”
Marking 35 years of experience in the construction sector, the Trust continues to prioritise funding that supports social mobility, improves representation and helps build a resilient future workforce.
Tier 1 roles via Pathways
Young people who have been able to access higher-level apprenticeships, thanks to past CYT Pathways programmes are now playing an ongoing role as a CYT Early Careers Ambassadors. This involves supporting the current Pathways programme in a voluntary capacity and engaging directly with young people considering their options after school.
Abigail’s story: becoming at rising star at SRM
Abigail (pictured above, far left), from Barking & Dagenham, joined CYT’s Pathways programme with a limited idea of the career she wanted to pursue after school. By engaging with relatable and inspiring volunteers from the built environment, Abigail discovered an interest in quantity surveying.
The Pathways programme supported her in exploring this career route through a range of immersive experiences, refining her employability skills for the recruitment process, and building relationships with employers offering real-world opportunities such as apprenticeships. This included connecting her to a recruitment event with Sir Robert McAlpine, which was offering higher-level apprenticeships in quantity surveying. Having aced the recruitment process, Abigail was offered a Level 6 QS apprenticeship at the firm.
Over two years later, Abigail is thriving in her role, continuing to develop her technical knowledge, confidence, and long-term career ambitions within the construction industry. She credits the transferrable skills she developed through Pathways – particularly around communication, professionalism and interview preparation – as key to her sustained success in the workplace. Her progress and commitment have been recognised through a Rising Star Award at an industry gala.
As an Early Careers Ambassador with CYT Abigail often returns to her former school in Barking & Dagenham to speak to current students.
Martell’s story: becoming a site manager at Hill Group
Martell (pictured above centre), from Southwark, was lacking in confidence with a limited understanding of the career opportunities available to him.
Through the programme, he took part in site visits with local built environment employers, experiencing roles like site management and project controls up close. He was helped to build relationships with employers through work experience placements, employer insight days and mock assessment centres, where he began building valuable professional connections.
With ongoing support from his CYT coach, Martell made a series of high-quality apprenticeship applications and was rewarded for his persistence by securing a Level 6 Site Management apprenticeship with Hill Group.
Martell now plays an active role as a CYT Early Careers Ambassador, sharing his insights in CYT steering group meetings, and has volunteered at his former school in Southwark.
Victoria’s story: SRM sustainability apprentice
Victoria (pictured above far right) took part in CYT’s three-day Building Future Skills programme, which gave her an experiential taste of career pathways in the sector. With an existing passion for green skills, Victoria became determined to pursue an apprenticeship in sustainability. Through a CYT recruitment event, Victoria was introduced to a Level 6 apprenticeship in sustainability with Sir Robert McAlpine, going on to excel in the interview process and secure the role.
Victoria is thriving in her apprenticeship and credits CYT’s Pathways programme with preparing her for the professional world of work. As a CYT Early Careers Ambassador, she has supported activities such as networking events, hands-on team challenges, as well as a parent engagement session where she positively challenged parents’ typically negative perceptions of apprenticeships. As a volunteer, she also contributed to a recent Building Future Skills programme
