Young people with experience of the care system are set to benefit from new training, work placements and employment opportunities on some of Britain’s largest construction and infrastructure projects under a major industry initiative launched by leading employers.
The new Care in Construction programme brings together organisations including Places for London, Transport for London’s property company, Heathrow, Lower Thames Crossing and Gallagher Group, alongside Olympian Fatima Whitbread’s charity, Fatima’s UK Campaign to help care-experienced young people build long-term careers in the construction sector.
The initiative aims to tackle two significant challenges: the high levels of unemployment among young people leaving care and the growing skills shortage facing the UK’s construction industry.
According to Office for National Statistics data, around 40% of care-experienced young people aged between 19 and 21 are not in education, employment or training, compared with 15% of their peers. At the same time, the construction industry is preparing for a wave of retirements, with around one-third of its workforce expected to leave over the next decade.
The programme will initially support more than 60 care-experienced young people into employment, while organisers believe it could create opportunities for thousands more across London, the South East and beyond in the coming years.
Former Olympic javelin champion Fatima Whitbread, who spent 14 years in the care system, has played a key role in developing the scheme. Through her charity, she will help connect employers with care leavers and families, while providing support to those entering the industry.
The wider partnership also includes the Drive Forward Foundation and Marlborough Highways, combining expertise from employers, charities and training providers to improve access to careers in construction.
Places for London said the programme builds on its existing work with The Skills Centre, which has trained more than 12,000 people through five skills hubs across the capital and helped thousands move into long-term employment in the built environment sector.
Heathrow has already launched a “Care into Construction” reverse careers fair, introducing care leavers to employment opportunities across the airport and its extensive supply chain.
Organisers say the initiative demonstrates how industry can address workforce shortages while creating life-changing opportunities for young people who have too often faced barriers to employment.
Fatima Whitbread said: ‘I am incredibly proud that Fatima’s UK Campaign has helped bring together the Care in Construction programme. This is about far more than employment – it is about creating genuine opportunities for care-experienced young people to build confidence, develop valuable skills and achieve long-term independence.
‘Too many young people leave care without the support networks that many of us take for granted. By working together with industry partners, we are opening doors into meaningful careers, giving young people the chance to realise their potential and build sustainable futures. Every young person deserves the opportunity to be seen, believed in and given a pathway to succeed. Care in Construction is proof that when charities, employers and communities collaborate, we can create lasting change and help transform lives.’
Two young people already benefiting from the programme are Kyian, 20, and Leighton, 16, who both entered care during childhood. After completing training with The Skills Centre and Marlborough Highways, they are preparing to begin apprenticeships with the highways and civil engineering contractor.
Kyian said: ‘People like me who’ve been in care should be confident in what they have, what they can do. Everyone is different but we can take the opportunities courses like this give us – we can rise up from where we’ve come from and do well from it. Marlborough’s shown me that I can do so much and I’m learning all the time. I’m so happy I got this opportunity, without it, I don’t know what I’d be doing, but now I’m looking forward to building up my future.’
Leighton added: ‘I wasn’t a fan of school, and couldn’t sit still in a classroom, but I’ve wanted to be in construction since I was a kid as I like manual work and being outside. My carer got me an interview with Marlborough, and then I was in maths when I was told I’d got on the course! Now that the course is over, I’m looking forward to going higher up in the industry, maybe a site manager one day! Bad days can only be bad days if you let them happen to you – I want people who’ve been in care to stay away from bad decisions, find out what they want to do, ask around – that’s what I did – so many people can support you and I’m getting to learn so much which will help me in the future.
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