An exciting new partnership has been launched that pays young people to bridge the skills gap and have hands-on experience helping to plan the UK’s newest garden town.
The collaboration – aimed at people between 15 and 25 – encourages those who might want to pursue a career in planning, development and the built environment sectors.
It has been launched by PfP, Barratt Redrow and youth engagement specialists 2-3 Degrees to coincide with Young Employment Week, as research from the Youth Employment Census* shows that careers support for college students has fallen dramatically over the last two years, with employer visits, careers advice and mentoring opportunities all falling sharply.
At a time when young people are increasingly calling for greater employer engagement and access to high-quality work experience, this new partnership will ensure that young people have a meaningful role in shaping their future community before a single home is built.
The programme will provide participants with 12 hours of paid work experience, giving them direct access to industry professionals while helping them to develop their employability skills and contribute ideas to the future of their local area.
Over the course of four workshops, participants will meet industry professionals across the planning, development and built environment sectors, gaining insight into the creation of one of the UK’s newest garden towns. Alongside this, they will develop practical experience and achievements that can strengthen their CVs, UCAS applications and future job interviews.
Speaking on behalf of the Joint Venture, Ben Stephen, Head of Development for Greater London, commented:
“We feel the impact when we don’t have enough skilled people to deliver the homes this country desperately needs. We also see the difference that opportunity can make, and we understand the importance of giving young people a voice in shaping their communities and their futures.
National research shows too many young people are missing out on opportunities to connect with employers and gain meaningful work experience. Through Future Makers: Gilston, we're helping bridge that gap by investing in local talent and ensuring young people have a genuine voice in the future of their communities.”
Carl Konadu BEM, CEO of 2-3 Degrees, commented:
“We know that young people want more opportunities to connect with employers, receive practical work experience and learn about a range of careers.
Future Makers provides exactly that, while also creating a platform for their voices to be heard.
This programme is not simply work experience. It gives participants the opportunity to learn and share ideas with project teams on the upcoming Gilston Villages project in their local area. It’s an extremely exciting moment for young people across the region.”
Delivered in the heart of Harlow, it demonstrates PfP and Barratt Redrow’s commitment to supporting local young people whilst bringing forward the Gilston Villages development. To find out more and submit an application, visit 2-3 Degrees.