We work closely with community partners to provide bespoke targeted support aimed at enabling young people to take their best next step on their career journey. 

We deliver a targeted support programme designed to support young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) to discover careers best suited to their skills and interests and support them to make positive and sustainable progression on their career journey. 

Each young person is partnered with a dedicated Construction Youth Trust coach to develop a bespoke Individual Action Plan including: 

  • 1-2-1 coaching sessions 
  • Practical tasters and employability sessions 
  • Introductions to inspirational relatable role models  
  • Support to achieve industry qualifications including Level 1 Health and Safety qualification and CSCS card  
  • Work experience placements  
  • Facilitated introductions to employers and opportunities  

Who can join the programme?

We designed the course for young people aged 16-30 and who are not currently in full time employment, education or training, or who is referred to us from an agency resident in our following hubs:

  • Southwark
  • Lambeth
  • Lewisham
  • Tower Hamlets
  • Kensington and Chelsea
  • Hammersmith and Fulham 
  • Westminster 
  • North Kent 

To find out more or to refer a young person onto our targeted support programme please get in touch. 

  Our courses are accredited by The Open College Network

Case Study

  • Theo

    Carpentry

    Theo, 16, has been working with Construction Youth Trust as part of our Building Opportunities programme. Initially he had some doubts about undertaking a work experience placement, concerns that can be linked back to the influence of the pandemic.

    Whilst Covid-19 often seems like a thing of the past, for many young people the pandemic has, and continues to define what is a formative stage of their lives. School and college were moved online, and early careers opportunities, such as work experience and apprenticeships were put on hold. For many of us, our lives have slowly started to resemble what they looked pre-pandemic, however the prospect of preparing to transition from life behind a screen and into the world of work is daunting for many young people.

    However, through working with his Construction Youth Trust coach, Theo was introduced to many careers in the construction industry that he never would have discovered independently. Carpentry and joinery “shined the brightest” and as his confidence started to grow, Theo felt ready to give a work experience placement a shot. In August, he completed a week long placement with bespoke furniture company, where he had the opportunity to try out practical skills in his area of interest, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

    It’s clear opportunities such as work experience placements play a vital part in setting young people on the right track for a successful career – not only in terms of providing them with demonstrable experience they can show to employers, but in building their confidence and self-esteem as well.

    Opportunities like this, particularly in the wake of Covid-19, can be life-defining for young people like Theo, who after completing his work experience placement has gone on to study carpentry! 

    “I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but since lockdown we’ve all been a lot more anti-social. Going back to speaking to people has been weird. My favourite part of the placement was being hands on in the workshop, side by side with professionals, as it’s a great way to learn! Work experience is helpful for meeting people on a bigger scale and has been a stepping-stone towards getting back to normal. Plus, it was fun! Going forward, I feel like it’s prepared me as I have knowledge of things I didn’t know before and know what to expect of a workplace.”

  • Ethan

    Quantity Surveying

    Ethan joined our Pathways to Professional Careers programme knowing that he wanted to apply his enjoyment of maths to a future career. However, he wasn’t sure of available roles that matched his aspirations.

    Throughout the programme, Ethan was given the opportunity to meet with a range of relatable professionals working in the construction industry. He was also given 1-2-1 support from his Construction Youth Trust coach to develop his employability skills. Through these experiences, Ethan realised the wealth of potential opportunities the construction and built environment sector could offer him and prompted his interest to find out more about the different routes to enter the sector. He was introduced to the possibility of applying for a higher-level degree apprenticeship as an alternative route to university – something that he hadn’t considered before.

    Ethan took park in a mock interview session and impressed the interviewer so much he successfully secured a 2-week work experience placement which he found “super helpful”.

    Spurred on by his successful first work-experience placement, Ethan also took part in a mock assessment centre where from he secured another weeklong work experience placement! The week had an instrumental impact on Ethan’s career journey and as a result of all his hard work Ethan was offered a higher-level degree apprenticeship in quantity surveying, which he is due to begin later this year. We wish Ethan the best of luck for the future and are looking forward to following his progress.

    "I thought construction was more about being a labourer, but it is so much more than that. I have been given so much information on the pathways available and understand how I could use opportunity my mathematical skills in a job.

    Meeting with employees from different construction companies has been very insightful to learn about different roles. Before I was thinking about going into finance or accountancy, but I didn’t have the opportunity to break into it. Construction Youth Trust came along, and I had so many opportunities presented to me. I found about different roles and quantity surveying really stood out to me!"