CYT’s Pathways programme supports disadvantaged and underrepresented young people to explore career opportunities in the built environment sector such as higher-level apprenticeships, and to develop the skills, confidence, and relationships they need to access them. A crucial part of this work is connecting young people consistently and meaningfully to hiring employers, helping them to explore different company cultures and potential job opportunities, build rapport with company professionals and hiring teams, and demonstrate their abilities outside of the formal application process. Through touchpoints such as work experience, insight days and ‘CYT Live Vacancies’ events, young people take part in a sustained journey with employers ahead of the recruitment process, dramatically increasing their chances of success.

In recent years, Turner & Townsend have been one of CYT’s employer partners most committed to delivering this pre-recruitment journey for disadvantaged and underrepresented young people, delivering consistent work experience placements, hundreds of volunteering hours, and an annual ‘CYT Live Vacancies’ event showcasing their open apprenticeship opportunities. The results speak for themselves. This year alone, we’ve supported 7 young people on Pathways into higher-level apprenticeships with Turner & Townsend, including Ameera, Dylan and Jeevan:

Upon joining the Pathways programme in Year 12, Ameera lacked confidence in professional settings, especially when meeting employers and in networking scenarios. She knew she wanted to pursue a career route in the built environment sector, but wanted to hone her professional skills, discover her best-suited pathway, and build a network of potential employers.

Her CYT coach immediately set about broadening Ameera’s exposure to professional settings, introducing her to a broad range of industry volunteers through activities such as networking events, 1-2-1 mock interviews, and a 5-day work experience placement. Through these experiences, Ameera was able to pin-point a career interest in the planning and coordination side of the built environment sector, establishing a clear career goal with a surge in confidence.

As Ameera progressed in Year 13, her CYT Coach decided she was a strong fit to take part in the ‘CYT Live Vacancies’ event taking place in partnership with Turner & Townsend. At the event, the team at T&T were presenting their open Level 6 apprenticeships in project controls which aligned closely with Ameera’s ambitions. It gave her a chance to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and confidence she’d developed on Pathways – taking part in networking activities and mock interviews. CYT supported her to make a quality application and she secured the role.

When Dylan joined the Pathways programme in Year 12, he was concerned about not reaching his full career potential, and felt that he was lacking the professional tools and skills needed to stand out to employers. Through 1-2-1 coaching sessions, Dylan’s CYT coach supported him to practise writing high-quality cover letters, as well as developing an impressive CV. This enabled him to package his skills, qualities, and ambitions more effectively.

Together, we helped Dylan establish a clear and focused career goal.
This support gave Dylan confidence to start actively pursuing apprenticeships in Year 13. Given his interest in Project Controls, his CYT coach thought he was an excellent candidate for the Turner & Townsend Live Vacancy This opportunity enabled Dylan to showcase his strengths directly to T&T and ultimately secure an apprenticeship.

Speaking about the Live Vacancy Day, Dylan said:

Reflecting on his overall experience, Dylan added:

Upon joining the Pathways programme, Jeevan had a clear career goal, but he lacked the guidance and mentorship needed to achieve it.

We supported Jeevan by connecting him with his CYT coach, who, through extensive one-to-one sessions, helped him create a strong application and improve his interview and communication skills. This included coaching on the STAR technique, enabling him to structure and confidently articulate his experiences when engaging with employers and networking opportunities. This support meant he was well prepared for the recruitment process.

His CYT Coach recognised that he was a strong fit to take part in the T&T Live Vacancy event, where he had the opportunity to meet the T&T team, learn more about the apprenticeship and gain first-hand insight into a career in Project Controls. The event allowed Jeevan to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and professionalism he had developed through Pathways, while building relationships with employers and asking informed questions about the role. With guidance from CYT throughout the process, Jeevan felt supported and more confident in applying for the T&T apprenticeship, and he secured the role.

Jeevan described the support from his CYT coach as “instrumental in building my confidence and maintaining my motivation throughout the process”

The success of these young people reflects the impact that Turner and Townsend’s early engagement and targeted support can have in creating pathways into professional careers.