As part of Laing O’Rourke’s UK social value strategy, which aims to deliver £2bn of social impact and enrich the lives of 2 million people by 2030, it has launched the Building Opportunities Programme to support individuals facing multiple barriers to employment.
The Building Opportunities Programme is set against the backdrop of a report that reveals in April 2023, 3.8% of the UK’s economically active population was unemployed, with over a fifth (22.1%) being unemployed for more than 12 months and 13.4% unemployed for over two years.
The pilot programme focused on an area of Manchester with high unemployment levels. A group of 15 people undertook a three-week course that included time in real-life working environments, practical employability skills, health and wellbeing support and an insight into the range of roles available in construction with Laing O’Rourke and its supply chain partners.
All 15 participants that completed the course passed their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) tests, and within a fortnight two participants secured jobs, and continue to remain in employment eight months later.
