Charity plan to train young students for career in construction scoops £20,000 Mowlem Award

An ambitious project to provide young people with training and employment within the construction sector has scooped the £20,000 Mowlem Award 2021 from the B&CE Charitable Trust.

The award now means that the charity Construction Youth Trust will be able to deliver on its pledge to support up to 100 students to complete a health and safety in construction qualification as well as helping most of them find either paid employment or further training within the industry. In its submission to judges, Construction Youth Trust highlighted the fact that, each year, tens of thousands of young people who have studied construction at college miss out on a career in the industry.

A record number of entries were received for this year’s Mowlem Award, but the Charitable Trust’s trustees were particularly impressed by the winning entry, which Construction Youth Trust believes will support its stated aim of supporting disadvantaged young people to get into the construction industry.

Nicola Sinclair, head of B&CE Charitable Trust, said: “Although competition for the Mowlem Award 2021 was tough, the entry from Construction Youth Trust stood out due to the fact that it seeks to solve an issue that has long been a problem for construction – how to get more young people, from a broad range of backgrounds, onto the first rung of the employment ladder. We’re delighted that the award will be used to fund vital, entry level qualifications and were very impressed with the stated ambition to find work or further training for the selected students.”

Carol Lynch, chief executive officer of Construction Youth Trust, said: “Every year, 100,000 further education learners study construction courses. However, only two in five progress into employment or an apprenticeship within the construction industry. With an acute skills shortage in construction, there is an urgent need to support the three out of five learners who do not immediately enter the sector to progress into work. This award will enable Construction Youth Trust to support learners gain the health and safety knowledge and qualifications they need to take that next step and enter the construction workforce. In addition, it will enable us to prepare them for the world of work and connect them directly to construction employers and opportunities.

“Overall, we hope to support up to 100 further education learners on their career journey and are very grateful to the B&CE Charitable Trust for its support.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. B&CE’s Charitable Trust was set up in 1991 to give back to the construction industry by providing help for people working in construction in times of need, including grants towards education, financial support and retraining. It has given out millions of pounds in charitable donations over the past 30 years. B&CE Group is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1942 by unions and federations with the intention of providing financial products for the construction industry. Today B&CE is perhaps best known for The People’s Pension, a leading workplace pension scheme with more than five million pension savers from over 95,000 employers and £16 billion assets under management.
2. Launched in 2015, the Mowlem Award furthers the work of the RI Beck Trust – a charity set up in 1983 by the construction company, Mowlem. The annual £20,000 grant is awarded to organisations that can demonstrate they will make a real difference towards training or the promotion of health and safety in construction.
3. Construction Youth Trust’s mission is to inspire and support young people to achieve their full career potential in the Construction and Built Environment sector. Social mobility is at the heart of their work and Construction Youth Trust prioritise supporting the hardest to reach young people. Working across London and North Kent Construction Youth Trust reached almost 16,000 young people in 2020 and provided bespoke targeted support to 453 young people most in need.

For further information contact Blaise Tapp, the media relations manager at B&CE, on 01293 205336 or email blaisetapp@bandce.co.uk