2023 award winners case study
YouthBuild Ventures UK
YouthBuild Ventures UK have made it their primary objective to tackle youth unemployment and address shortages across construction industries.
Youthbuild London – their enterprise
When they see an unemployed young person, they don’t see a statistic or a problem to solve. Rather, they see a unique and undiscovered source of potential, with the power to transfer not just themselves but their communities also. YouthBuild Ventures UK work to make themselves “the last place a young person needs to come before reaching a positive and sustained destination in work or further training”.
They’ve taken a holistic approach to employment training, acknowledging that it’s not solely the lack of training that creates barriers to employment. Their training spaces go beyond providing a place to learn, they also create an environment of belonging, where all who walk through their doors know they have a place at the table. Their psychotherapeutic approaches to self-esteem and mental wellbeing also help tackle the unseen barriers and challenges many young people face, particularly the vulnerable.
Having identified a lack around industry participation in education, their approach to training allows students to gain firsthand experience of construction on a project-by-project basis. They believe students exceed by “putting theory into practice”.
Each project at the facility in Bircham Newton in Norfolk features a scaled-down replica of well-known structures, including The Gherkin, Millau Cable Bridge, Barcelona Tower, and the Canary Wharf Underground. Recently, they’ve increased their focus towards the environment sector, which is projected to grow rapidly in the coming decades.
We understand that it takes more than skills to succeed, therefore high-quality skills training embeds the attitudes and behaviours required to succeed and lead in the industry. Our commitment extends beyond job placement, offering ongoing support for both youth and employers.
Shenaaz Chenia, YouthBuild Ventures UK
Our award
Their values-driven approach to youth unemployment along with their proven track record of success showed us just how much our grant would help young people. YouthBuild Ventures UK have used this award to develop talent for the construction industry that have trade skills as well as transferable skills in green construction and a mindset to build sustainably.
This award will help to build a direct pipeline from training to employment within net-zero construction, helping to build sustainable careers for young people as well as a sustainable infrastructure.
In particular, this grant has targeted 65 care leavers and other vulnerable young people, supporting them into meaningful and sustainable employment. In doing so, it aims to get over 80% of participants into employment or further training.