Bellway reaches more than half a million young people with its education outreach scheme

More than half a million children and young people have benefitted from a major educational outreach programme by homebuilder Bellway over the last 18 months.

The residential housebuilder is providing the opportunities as part of its Better with Bellway sustainability strategy, which focuses on putting people and the planet first.

As part of the scheme the company has engaged with 675 schools and colleges all over the UK through online and in-person sessions arranged through its partnership with The School Outreach Company.

Delivering the project to over 575 Secondary schools in England, Wales and Scotland and 166 primary schools.

Bellway Group Senior Organisational Development Manager Laura Bell said: “We aim to target schools with higher proportions of girls, pupils who are eligible for free school meals and pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds, and this is part of our vision for a more diverse workforce both here at Bellway and in the wider construction industry.

“It’s an essential part of our long-term Better with Bellway strategy and our commitment to a sustainable future.

“Our outreach programme allows young people to learn about our industry and know more about the brilliant opportunities provided by a career in construction, as well as showing them that the idea of pursuing that goal themselves is possible.”

Bellway tailors its sessions to the requirements of each school or college that gets involved. Sessions can support the curriculum and help pupils develop skills in areas such as design and literacy as well as promoting connection with local communities.

The sessions link to themes from the Better with Bellway strategy which include sustainability, careers, work, and communities. They may involve Bellway staff visiting the school or college in person, holding a session online, or hosting a visit to a live construction site.

James Austen, Board Director at The School Outreach Company said: “Bellway and The School Outreach Company work collaboratively to support the education, engagement and ultimately recruitment of school leavers across the UK.

“As well as raising awareness of Bellway’s role as an apprentice employer, we are also helping to attract a diverse applicant pool, with a focus on recruiting women into the construction industry and driving social mobility in areas with high social deprivation.

“This ensures all opportunities at Bellway are shared consistently with young people, and supports levelling up across the country. The campaign has been highly successful over the last three years, and inspired many to consider construction as a potential career pathway.”

The programme is supported at all levels of the business as there is a volunteer champion within every division of the company and these volunteers come from different stages of their career. In the Kent division, for example, the divisional champions are Managing Director Chris Moore and Sales Graduate Will Edgar.

Chris said: “As a senior leader within the housebuilding industry, I was delighted to become involved in Bellway’s school outreach. We have a clear skills shortage in our industry and it’s therefore vital that we seek to educate and attract young people to a potential career in housebuilding.

“I have enjoyed getting out to some of our local schools and careers events with colleagues and helping to demonstrate the wide range of career paths available at Bellway. It’s been quite evident that a significant proportion of young people know nothing about housebuilding, often focussing instead on more tech-based industries, but these events are a great opportunity to demonstrate that a rewarding and fulfilling career can be had in housing.”

Will added: “I wanted to get involved because I believe knowledge is power and we are helping young people learn more about the choices that could be waiting for them with a career in construction.

“It is great because they can relate to me because I am relatively young and am still going through the graduate scheme.”

To find out more about the Better with Bellway sustainability strategy visit https://sustainability.bellwayplc.co.uk.