Emma joined our Building Opportunities programme in Barking and Dagenham when she was 16 and studying GCSEs. She was struggling to develop a career goal she was excited about and really didn’t know what she would do after she finished school – so she came to us for support.

Once on our programme, Emma’s CYT coach introduced her to the range of incredible roles available in construction and the built environment. Emma was connected to a variety of industry professionals – from quantity surveyors to project managers – who were able to give her insight into the sector and the pathways into it. She also attended sessions designed to boost her employability skills – focusing on CV-writing, interview techniques, and skills for the workplace. With growing confidence, Emma was getting a feel for the roles that would best suit her.

It was when we arranged a tour of a live construction site for Emma, through one of our local Barking and Dagenham employer partners, that her enthusiasm really took off. She spent time with a senior site manager and witnessed how they managed the various teams, project timelines and budget. She was captivated by the role and being at the core of everything happening on site. She also felt the leadership involved would really play to her strengths. By now, Emma was eager and determined to secure an apprenticeship in site management.

Emma’s CYT coach invited her to an online Live Vacancies Day hosted by one of our employer partners – a major property developer with site management roles on offer. This was Emma’s perfect opportunity. She had the chance to learn about the employer, ask questions and understand the roles on offer – including expectations and progression within the organisation. She was impressed, so she applied for a site management apprenticeship. The time she had spent with her CYT coach honing her application skills had clearly paid off because she was invited to interview and swiftly offered the role. It is hugely rewarding for us to have supported Emma from GCSEs straight into a fulfilling role she’s so excited about – we look forward to following her exciting journey ahead!

Construction Youth Trust works in local communities across London and North Kent, targeting areas with a high proportion of low-income households and significant construction and regeneration.

Our Building Opportunities programme targets young people at high risk of not making a successful post-16 transition. It centres on 1-2-1 coaching and ongoing employer engagement. The ultimate goal of this project is to support young people to transition into sustainable employment, education or training (EET) outcomes that are meaningful to their aspirations.