2019 Mowlem Award winners case study

Essex Youthbuild

Please tell us a little about Essex Youthbuild and what you do

Formed in 2005, Essex Youthbuild is a Chelmsford-based charity. Essex Youthbuild provides construction training and mentoring to disadvantaged young people aged 14-19 from across Essex. Young people still at school come to us through a school programme that allows them to gain vocational qualifications alongside their school curriculum. Young people aged 16-19 who are NEET (not in employment, education or training) may have additional disadvantages such as special educational needs, living in supported housing etc. We work with all these young people to engage them in learning again and to help them gain City & Guilds qualifications in construction as well as qualifications in functional skills. We provide support and mentoring to these young people, helping them progress from us on to places at college, apprenticeships and jobs.

What does winning the Mowlem Award and the grant mean to you and your organisation?

Winning the Mowlem Award has been a great thrill for Essex Youthbuild. It is a prestigious award and endorses our practice of embedding health and safety in all the teaching we do with young people.   

How has/will the funding help you and/or your organisation? What has/will it allow you to achieve?

Receiving this funding will mean that we can help 100 or so young people with aspirations to get into the construction industry but who face the barrier to entry of successfully getting a health and safety qualification and affording the cost of the CITB test and card. There is a significant number of young people who are keen to go out to work but lack any kind of qualification. Gaining this qualification is a huge boost to their self confidence and their appeal to employers.

Anything you’d like to say about the service and support you’ve received from us?

Everyone has been very friendly and helpful.