Inspiring future careers in construction

As part of our commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the projects we deliver, Skillcrown worked with The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls to introduce Year 7 pupils to the wide range of careers available across property and construction.

Rather than simply talking about the industry, we set the pupils a practical design challenge: to create a new home for the school’s own farm.

Working in teams, the pupils developed proposals that considered sustainability, energy efficiency, animal welfare, accessibility, safety and the practical operation of the farm.  They then built physical models and presented their ideas to a judging panel.

The day gave the pupils an opportunity to experience some of the thinking, teamwork and problem-solving involved in the built environment, while also highlighting the breadth of roles available within an industry where women remain underrepresented.

A winning class was selected at the end of the day, but the real aim was much wider: to help young people see construction and property as an industry they could genuinely be part of.

If the experience has encouraged even a small number of pupils to consider a future career in the sector, it will have made a worthwhile impact.