16 February 2015

Costain recently took part in Career Academies UK’s ‘A Capital Experience: say YES to success’ event.

Career Academies UK is a national charity that links schools and colleges from all over the UK and Northern Ireland with employers in order to prepare young people for the world of work. The purpose of the Capital Experience day was for students from across the UK to visit a business in London and get an insight into potential career opportunities, particularly in a construction/city environment.

In total 1,700 students from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland who are active in the Career Academy programme at their school or college came to London. Costain was one of more than 50 of the capital’s employers to support the event.

The aim of the day was to bridge the gap between education and work by giving young people access to real experiences of the world of work. Career Academies UK aims to make young people work ready by delivering a programme of mentoring, masterclasses, workplace visits and internships in schools and colleges across the UK.

Costain’s Crossrail teams responsible for the fit out of the tunnels, Paddington New Yard, Eleanor Street and Mile End Shafts, and London Underground’s Bond Street Station upgrade each hosted a morning workshop for around 30 students from the ages of 15 to 19.They travelled from as far as Yorkshire and Northern Ireland. Workshops included introductions to the construction industry and information about the specific project works.

Networking lunches saw students able to socialise with staff and ask questions about their roles and how they got to where they are today. In the afternoon all the students, as well as some Costain employees, went to the Dominion Theatre in the West End for an opportunity to hear motivational speakers, meet students from other schools and see a performance by dance crew CEO Dancers.

Anne Spackman, Executive Director of Career Academies UK, said: “The visits that took place across London mark the first step in our students’ journeys. For many, this will have been their first visit to London, and to walk into the glass and marble towers of the capital and realise that they are welcome and that someone like them could work there, is an inspirational moment for these students. We hope that moment of inspiration will stay with them throughout the programme and motivate them to aim higher in their future careers. We are incredibly grateful to all the businesses and individuals who hosted our students and we hope those involved enjoyed it as much as our students did.”

Click here for more information about Career Academies UK.

 

 

 

 

Ends

 

 

Media Enquiries
Costain Communications Department
01628 842585
[email protected]