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Morgan Sindall backs Essex schools programme to tackle skills gap
Nicky Roger Associate editor
Pupils visit construction sites as part of Building a Lasting Legacy (BaLL). Image: Essex County Council
Pupils from three Essex secondary schools are gaining first-hand experience of live construction sites through a long-term careers initiative led by Morgan Sindall Construction and Essex County Council.
The Building a Lasting Legacy (BaLL) programme is designed to encourage more young people to consider careers in construction at a time when the industry faces mounting skills shortages and an ageing workforce.
Students from Hylands, Sandon and Boswell schools have taken part in site visits organised with industry partners, including Morgan Sindall Construction, Munro Building Services, Auburn Group and Jacobs. During the visits, pupils were introduced to roles across engineering, design and site management, while learning about site safety, teamwork and project delivery.
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The initiative, funded by Essex County Council through the Essex Growth Agency, brings together contractors, schools, The Careers & Enterprise Company and Anglia Ruskin University to support students from Year 9 through to post-16 education.
The site visits followed classroom workshops and a design competition led by industry professionals, aimed at showing pupils how subjects studied at school relate to careers in the built environment.
Long-term solutions
Andy Burgess, director of sustainable growth at Essex County Council, said the programme was designed to provide sustained engagement with the sector rather than “a single visit or event”.
“By giving young people real-world experiences over several years, we are helping them make informed choices about their futures,” he said. “The programme also supports the long-term skills needs of the construction sector in Essex.”
The programme also aims to improve diversity within the sector by ensuring equal participation from girls and boys.
Industry feedback has been positive, with contractors using the initiative to showcase the breadth of opportunities available in construction beyond traditional trade roles.
Neha, a Year 9 pupil at Hylands School, said the programme had changed her perception of the industry.
“The project has helped me to understand that there are great opportunities around jobs like being a project manager,” she said.
Another participant, Ethan, a Year 10 student, said he was preparing to undertake work experience placements through the programme after learning more about career opportunities in construction.
Research carried out by Anglia Ruskin University found pupils taking part in BaLL had a stronger understanding of construction careers and were more open to post-16 routes, including apprenticeships.
Further site visits, mentoring and work experience placements are planned as the programme continues.
