Launched in 2022, the GRaAPs (Graduates and Apprentices) network was created to bring together a community of early-career professionals within the business.
The network was formed with a mission to provide a forum for Costain’s graduates and apprentices to foster a community, connect with different parts of the business and aid professional growth. With a focus on charity events and fundraising, the network has raised nearly £4,000 for the Samaritans.
The GRaAPS network programme involves volunteering and charity events throughout the year, as well as monthly ‘lunch and learn’ sessions featuring topics curated by members with guest speakers from within and outside of the business.
The network is run by a dedicated leadership team and is sponsored by our Talent and Development Director. The group meets monthly to discuss innovative ideas, plan upcoming events, gather constructive feedback and work on the continuous enhancement of GRaAPS.
Purpose and aims
The main aims of the network are:
- Fostering a community: Making connections and friends to share best practice for career development and finding a community of people who are at the same stage of their own careers.
- Professional development: Connecting across the business to understand our sectors, capabilities and corporate function for operational and customer knowledge.
- Personal development: Developing soft skills such as presentation skills, confidence building and communication skills.
The benefits
By facilitating these conversations, the GRaAPS network cultivates a sense of solidarity amongst its members and empowers individuals to thrive and succeed in their respective fields. The growth of the network has also been supported by ensuring a safe space for questions, and being able to suggest guest speakers and charitable causes.
Entering the world of work can be daunting – and it takes some time to know what to do and what not to do. Having the GRaAPS network at Costain has been really helpful and supportive - it’s great meeting up with other graduates and apprentices in person and learning about the different work they are doing and making connections across the business. The network helps drive a sense of collective spirit: the charity walk we did was so fun and challenging - we loved doing it together as a team!
Molly Keane Apprentice civil and structural engineer, Costain
