Russell WBHO has partnered with the Elaine Bain Family Trust (EBFT) to deliver a construction careers programme for young people across the local area.
Marking the beginning of a meaningful collaboration focused on widening access to the industry, a four-week programme was developed to provide students with hands-on insight into construction.
Delivered at Hollinwood Junction in Oldham, the initiative welcomed over 80 students across eight sessions, forming part of EBFT’s first-ever construction-focused experience.
EBFT supports some of the most vulnerable young people across the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough, engaging some learners in local high schools who require additional support. Through mentoring, personal development and learner-centred activities, the charity helps individuals build confidence and identify pathways for the future.
Each session began with a welcome and project overview from our Assistant Site Manager, followed by a comprehensive Health & Safety briefing. Students also heard first-hand about the routes to entry into our industry, from one of our current Building Students, helping to bring career pathways to life. Equipped with Russell WBHO PPE, they then took part in a guided walkaround of our site, led by the Hollinwood team.
During their visit, students explored the different phases of construction, discovered the wide range of careers available on site, and gained valuable insight into the delivery of a project of this scale. The programme was tailored with EBFT to ensure it met the needs of their learners and provided an engaging and supportive introduction to site.
Steven Downham-Clarke, full-time Trustee at EBFT, said: “A huge thank you to everyone at Russell WBHO who has and continues to support this initiative and our activities. Our young participants from local schools have had a valuable and inspiring opportunity to meet new people, explore different career paths, gain new skills, experience a construction environment, and develop real-world insights.
By focusing on skills development and where future opportunities may lie, this work highlights the importance of building a strong pipeline to help bridge the skills gap across many industries. Increasing awareness of these opportunities also gives young people greater visibility of local projects – like the Northern Gateway and Atom Valley – where they could go on to shape their future careers. This is a fantastic partnership and one we hope to maintain, so we can continue offering these experiences to more young people we support.”
Liesel McQueen, Social Value Manager, said: “Working in partnership with EBFT has been incredibly rewarding. Their commitment to supporting young people aligns closely with our own values, and together we’ve been able to create a programme that not only introduces students to construction but helps them see a future within in. We’re excited to continue building on this partnership and expanding opportunities for young people in the communities we serve.”
Following the success of the programme, Russell WBHO and EBFT are exploring opportunities to continue to grow this initiative, bringing similar experiences to more students in the future.
If you’d like to see what the students got up to during their full day at Hollinwood Junction, check out our YouTube video here.
