Brooke was referred to us by a youth unemployment service when she was 17 years old. Having left school, she didn’t know what she wanted to do next.

On learning about the opportunities we can offer on our Building Opportunities programme, Brooke was interested in finding out more about both site and project management. She was particularly keen to gain first-hand experience of each role so she could decide which was best suited to her.

Working with one of our experienced coaches, Brooke quickly secured her Level 1 Health and Safety qualification – a key first step for anyone starting out in the construction industry. Using our employer networks, we were then able to connect her to a five-day work experience placement where she was given the opportunity to shadow both a site manager and project manager and get a feel for the types of tasks involved in each role. This fantastic opportunity opened her eyes to what it’s really like to work in the industry and gave her the insight she needed to decide on her next step.

Brooke had taken a particular shine to the project manager’s role. She felt she would enjoy supporting the project from behind the scenes and that her strengths would lie best in an administrative role within the project management team.

Now with a clear pathway she wanted to follow, Brooke worked with her CYT coach to put together a compelling CV and started applying for relevant apprenticeships with our partner employers.

The very first application led to an interview and Brooke impressed the employer so much she was offered the position immediately. She is now thriving in her apprenticeship as a capital projects administrator, and we are so happy to have been a part of her incredible story!

Building Opportunities is an intensive coaching programme for disadvantaged young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) or at-risk of becoming NEET. Our programme targets the very hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable young people in our hub areas and encourages them to take positive next steps towards rewarding work suited to their individual abilities and interests.