British Land, United St Saviour’s Charity, Southwark Construction Skills Centre and Construction Youth Trust have come together in collaborative partnership to create Shaping Southwark’s Future.

The Shaping Southwark’s Future partnership aims to ensure that the young people of Southwark benefit directly from the regeneration of their local area. A number of redevelopment projects are set to take place over the next decade generating numerous job, skills and career development opportunities. British Land’s Canada Water Masterplan development is just one of these upcoming projects and is due to go before the planning committee in the coming months.

To be able to engage the widest range of young people possible, Shaping Southwark’s Future has formed partnerships with 7 north Southwark schools as well as local community organisations and referral partners. On behalf of the partnership, Construction Youth Trust coordinates the delivery of inspirational construction and built environment led engagements, aligned with the curriculum from Year 7 onwards, and immersive world-of-work courses within schools and the local community. A fundamental part of the partnership is the ability to connect young people directly to industry with all engagements supported by a wide range of professional industry volunteers offering experience, advice and opportunities.

Acting as a springboard and a source of support for young Southwark residents, a number of the programmes prioritise working with those young people who are currently, or are at risk of being, not in education, employment or training. Since launching in November 2018 the programme has already engaged with over 2,000 young people in schools and the community.

The potential for career progression within the construction and built environment can be exponential, regardless of the level someone enters the industry. Shaping Southwark’s Future wants to ensure that the young people of Southwark are part of the development of their borough and feel included by industry rather than left watching from the side lines.

Speaking about the partnership, Eleanor Wright, Head of Community at Canada Water, said: “We want local young people to have a head start in being able to take advantage of the opportunities created by the regeneration of their area, and establishing this partnership early on is a key way to ensure this happens. It’s also why we have decided to start these programmes early on in their development and with those currently in Year 7. Overall we want to inspire a new generation of talent into the construction and built environment sector and are hugely excited about what the future has in store.”

If you, or you know someone between the ages of 15 – 30 and would like to take part in the Shaping Southwark’s Future programme, email megan.valuks@constructionyouth.org.uk for details of upcoming free courses and events.