Construction careers programme celebrates successful first year
An event was held recently to mark the first year of a new programme designed to introduce young people in Essex to the construction industry while developing a diverse pipeline of talent for the region’s built environment sector.
The five-year programme, called Building a Lasting Legacy (BaLL), has involved three schools across Chelmsford and is designed to inspire young people to explore careers in construction.
Developed by tier one contractor Morgan Sindall Construction in partnership with Essex County Council (ECC), the initiative brings together multiple local stakeholders, including The Sandon School, The Boswells School, Hylands School, Chelmsford College, Greater Essex Careers Hub, The Careers and Enterprise Company, and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), alongside 20 different Essex-based suppliers and subcontractors.
To celebrate the achievements that have been made during BaLL’s inaugural year, many Year 9 students, parents, and industry professionals gathered for a special event at Chelmsford College.
The event showcased the skills and enthusiasm of students from each of the three schools, who took part in a wide range of construction-related activities throughout the academic year. This included in-school activity days, site visits, and practical workshops in skills ranging from painting and decorating, bricklaying, and carpentry to electrical installation, plumbing, civil engineering, and digital design using CAD and BIM.
Eight students who demonstrated exceptional commitment and skill throughout the programme received awards during the event.
Parents and carers attended talks on post-16 and post-18 education pathways, where they heard directly from employers about what they look for in future recruits. A panel discussion led by Morgan Sindall featured representatives from leading construction firms including Ingleton Wood, Kier Construction, Ringway Jacobs, GSQ Brickwork and Site Ready Solutions.
Christina Sapsed, a Tutor from Hylands School, reflected on the impact of the programme:
Seeing our students embrace the challenges and thrive in the different environments is wonderful. Without the valuable support from companies such as Morgan Sindall and Essex County Council, these events would not be possible. They provided their time and resources to invest in pupil's future from a young age. Inspiring students to enter the profession and to see how vast the opportunities are to them is priceless.”
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said:
The success of the first year of Building a Lasting Legacy shows the value of education and industry coming together. Students have grown in confidence, gained new skills and are seeing construction as a real career option. It’s a strong foundation for the years ahead”
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity, added:
It’s fantastic to see so many local businesses actively supporting young people through this programme. Their commitment is helping to shape the future workforce and create real opportunities. I’m excited to see how Building a Lasting Legacy continues to grow and evolve in the coming years.”
Helen Clements, Senior Social Value Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, said:
During the Building a Lasting Legacy programme’s inaugural year, we’ve seen first-hand how vital this support and investment is for young people within our communities. For example, some of the pupils have found mainstream education difficult but have really engaged with the programme and are now on a path to further mentorship, experience, and opportunities in the future.
On top of this, we know that programmes like this will unlock the skills and talent the county’s built environment sector needs to create the high quality, sustainable buildings of tomorrow. All of this makes the Building a Lasting Legacy project very close to the hearts of Morgan Sindall’s Chelmsford-based team, and we can’t wait to see what the next four years bring.”
Launched in 2024 the BALL programme has already exceeded its initial target, engaging over 108 students in its first year. The programme includes school-based competitions, site visits, mentoring, and work experience.
By showcasing the benefits of working in the construction industry, the programme will help develop a strong pipeline of diverse, engaged, and skilled talent for the county’s building-related firms. As a Chelmsford based team, Morgan Sindall’s Essex business is aware of the importance of upskilling young people and how this has a direct impact on the county’s ability to create the buildings in which we live, learn, and relax.
To tackle historically low levels of diversity in the construction industry, the Building a Lasting Legacy programme will reflect the pupil populations within the participating schools. By targeting parity across characteristics including gender, ethnicity, disability, and income at the higher education level, the programme intends to encourage more people from different backgrounds to sign up for construction-related jobs and further education courses. This grassroots support will help create a more diverse overall sector, which will have a wide range of benefits for businesses and communities in Essex.
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