Key Points
- The Construction Workers Charitable Trust (formerly B&CE Charitable Trust) is providing continued funding for the Construction Youth Trust’s (CYT) Pathways programme, targeting young people from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds in London.
- More than 400 young people have been engaged so far, up from 312 last year, with over 90% from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds; the programme has partnered with 34 London schools.
- Over 150 young people have completed five-day industry work experience placements, supported by more than 200 industry volunteers, alongside employer insight days and recruitment events.
- Since 2011, the Trust has awarded more than £160,000 to CYT for programmes including immersive sessions on built environment careers and qualifications like the Level 1 Health & Safety award.
- The programme addresses construction industry skills shortages and low representation from lower-income backgrounds, amid nearly a million young people NEET (not in education, employment or training) in the UK.
- Nicola Sinclair, head of the Construction Workers Charitable Trust, highlighted barriers for lower socioeconomic youth and the value of employer-led pathways for long-term careers and pensions.
- CYT chief executive Carol Lynch described the funding as transformational, enabling a game-changing model for social mobility and access to professional jobs and apprenticeships.
- Success stories include Abigail (quantity surveying apprentice at Sir Robert McAlpine), Martell (site management apprentice at Hill Group), and Victoria (sustainability apprentice at Sir Robert McAlpine), now CYT Early Careers Ambassadors.
- The Trust, marking 35 years, prioritises social mobility and workforce resilience; UK unemployment at 1.78 million.
- Broader context includes government YouthBuild funding ($98 million for pre-apprenticeships) and UK initiatives for 350,000 training opportunities in construction.
Inverted Pyramid Structure
More than 400 disadvantaged young people in London are gaining pathways into construction careers through a major social mobility programme funded by the Construction Workers Charitable Trust. The initiative, delivered by the Construction Youth Trust (CYT), connects participants with skills training, work experience, and employer engagement to tackle industry skills shortages.
This continued funding builds on over 15 years of support, with the Trust awarding more than £160,000 since 2011. As reported in Construction Management, the programme has already exceeded targets, partnering with 34 schools and engaging over 90% disadvantaged youth.
What is the Pathways programme?
The Pathways programme by CYT specifically targets 16- to 18-year-olds from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds facing barriers to employment. It offers immersive sessions on built environment careers, intensive courses for qualifications like the Level 1 Health & Safety award, and direct links to apprenticeships and jobs.
To date, CYT has engaged more than 400 young people – surpassing last year’s 312 – through partnerships with 34 London schools. More than 150 have completed five-day work placements, supported by over 200 industry volunteers, plus insight days and recruitment events leading to job and apprenticeship applications.
As detailed in a press release on the B&CE website, the programme addresses widespread skills shortages in construction while boosting diversity, as representation from lower-income backgrounds remains low.
How does the funding support young people?
The Construction Workers Charitable Trust’s strategic funding for the 2024-26 Pathways programme enables expanded delivery amid rising demand. Since 2011, funded activities have included experiential career sessions and employability coaching.
Nicola Sinclair, who heads the Construction Workers Charitable Trust, stated: “Nearly a million young people are currently disconnected from education or work, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face disproportionately higher barriers to opportunity. For industries like construction and the built environment, which face long-term skills shortages, the answer lies in high-quality, employer-led pathways that prioritise long-term career progression.”
She added: “By investing time in meaningful training and high-level qualifications, young people can be supported into sustainable careers that they remain committed to. Construction Youth Trust’s Pathways programme demonstrates the value of walking alongside individuals throughout their journey, helping them build skills and confidence to carve out clear career trajectories. Crucially, getting young people into stable work early also enables them to start saving into a workplace pension, allowing them to start building strong financial foundations for life.”
Who benefits from this initiative?
Over 90% of the 400+ participants come from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, many NEET, in a context where UK social mobility is constrained. The programme counters this by providing professional networks, mock assessments, and real-world exposure often lacking for these youth.
CYT chief executive Carol Lynch remarked: “We are so grateful for the support of Construction Workers Charitable Trust and deeply appreciative of its support over 15 fantastic years. Its backing has made such a significant difference, enabling us to support many more disadvantaged young people to access careers and opportunities in the construction industry they may otherwise have missed out on.”
Lynch continued: “The Trust’s recent investment in our Pathways programme has been transformational. It has helped us to develop a model we believe is a genuine gamechanger, both in the short term and as a long-term driver of social mobility, by supporting more disadvantaged people to benefit directly from professional jobs and apprenticeships in the industry. We are thrilled with what we have accomplished together and look forward to building on this success.”
What success stories emerge from Pathways?
Young alumni now serve as CYT Early Careers Ambassadors, volunteering to inspire current participants. Abigail from Barking & Dagenham, with initial uncertainty about her career, discovered quantity surveying through immersive experiences and secured a Level 6 apprenticeship at Sir Robert McAlpine.
She credits Pathways for skills in communication, professionalism, and interviews, earning a Rising Star Award and returning to her school to speak.
Martell from Southwark, lacking confidence, gained site visits, work experience, and connections, landing a Level 6 Site Management apprenticeship at Hill Group. He now contributes to CYT steering groups and school visits.
Victoria, passionate about green skills, progressed from a three-day Building Future Skills programme to a Level 6 sustainability apprenticeship at Sir Robert McAlpine, challenging parental views on apprenticeships as an Ambassador.
These Tier 1 role successes highlight the programme’s impact on higher-level apprenticeships.
Why is this funding timely for the construction sector?
The initiative arrives as UK unemployment hits 1.78 million, per House of Commons Library data cited in B&CE’s release, with construction facing chronic skills gaps and low diversity from lower-income groups.
The Trust, established in 1991 and marking 35 years, has donated nearly £5 million, focusing on employability, mental health, mentoring, and youth unemployment. It supports businesses improving construction pathways.
Broader efforts include the US Department of Labor’s $98 million YouthBuild funding for pre-apprenticeships for 16-24 opportunity youth, and UK plans for 350,000 training spots in construction, care, and hospitality for universal credit youth, plus jobs guarantees.
London-specific funds like the Construction Skills Capital Fund 2026 further bolster skills provision.
How does CYT operate and partner?
CYT, a established charity, connects diverse 16-18-year-olds with employers via programmes like Pathways to Professional Careers, featuring Live Vacancies Days with mock assessments.
Partners include Sir Robert McAlpine, Hill Group, and volunteers; trustees like Julie White of D-Drill & Sawing bring subcontractor experience where 80% started as apprentices.
Other supporters like Kusuma Trust (£50,000 in 2023) and Goodman Foundation aid similar efforts.
For professionals eyeing leadership in such initiatives, Leadership and Management training equips teams to drive social mobility programmes effectively.