Youth engagement project concludes

A four-year-long UK school engagement programme called ‘Budding Brunels Rail’, conducted by construction charity Construction Youth Trust, concluded recently with a celebration at the London Transport Museum. The aim of the programme, according to Construction Youth Trust, was to inform and inspire young people aged 16-19 to consider professional careers within the construction and rail industries.

During the time the programme ran, 244 students from 34 London schools participated in 14 three-day workshops. Each three-day workshop was supported by construction professionals who helped inform students through practical activities and visits to live construction sites. The workshops also included a range of activities, such as bridge building and stakeholder engagement, in which the students got the opportunity to experience different roles within the railway industry. According to Construction Youth Trust, giving the students the opportunity to work directly with volunteers from the industry provided them with valuable role models, relevant experience and useful information with which they could make more informed decisions about their future careers.

Carol Lynch, CEO at Construction Youth Trust, concluded, “It has been fantastic to see the success of the rail and construction industry coming together with local communities to inspire the next generation of young people who will build Britain’s future. It is clear that the students have enjoyed the experience and now have a greater understanding of the wonderful career opportunities available to them in today’s built environment sector. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved, and we look forward to continuing this important work with other industry partners.”