Manchester NEET Construction Skills Programme

BUILDING FUTURES

How a NEET Construction Skills Course is Changing Lives in Manchester

How a 12 week construction course, run by Skills Construction Centre, Morgan Sindall and Manchester City Council is helping NEET individuals back into the world of work...Contents

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For more information, please contact:

Gill Roberts, Senior Social Value Manager

gill.roberts@morgansindall.com

A light in
the dark

For many young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), finding a pathway into a stable career can be a daunting challenge.

The Skills Construction Centre, in partnership with Manchester City Council, Morgan Sindall Construction, and supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is delivering a life-changing 12-week construction programme on our DfE project at Dixon's Academy, designed to provide hands-on experience, employability skills, and qualifications that open doors to the construction industry.

Click to watch the film and see the impact it's making…

Click to watch

A practical approach
to learning

Unlike traditional education settings, this programme takes place on an active construction site, allowing learners to gain real-world experience in bricklaying, groundworks, and health and safety training.

All the work takes part in a specialist set-up, right next to the site, so they have easy access between the two.

They're not stuck in a classroom anywhere, they have a specially designated compound right next to the project, so it's fantastic for them to get a good idea of the environment on a construction site.

Donna Brennan, Skills Construction Centre

Students also work towards earning their CSCS card, a crucial certification for employment in the industry. Alongside technical skills, they receive support with CV writing and employability training, ensuring they are job-ready by the end of the course.

How important is connecting a trade to a site environment for learners

It's imperative
I'm sitting on the fence!
I don't think it matters

What we’re doing here is a 12-week construction programme with people that are NEET. They’re learning bricklaying, groundworks, getting the CSCS card, getting work experience on site, and even mock interviews. A lot of the people here come from deprived areas, and they have challenges, so this is about getting them on board, showing them there’s a better way of life for them. Without these sorts of opportunities, a lot of these young people get stuck in a hole, so this is about giving them the confidence to go out there and get a job. They’re not only involved in a team while they’re here, but they are also making friends and ending up with a qualification. It’s an amazing journey they go on and it’s nice to see them achieve something at the end of the course. It’s just unbelievable!

Donna Brennan, Skills Construction Centre

Breaking barriers to employment

Many of the young people enrolled in the programme face significant challenges, from academic struggles to mental health concerns or previous encounters with the criminal justice system.

"Some of them have actually come from the youth offending team as well," Donna notes. "It's about bringing them on board, showing them there’s a better way of life, and giving them the training, skills, and confidence they need to get a job."

The location of the programme is also strategic, targeting areas with high unemployment and limited opportunities. "Wythenshawe is quite a deprived area," Donna explains. "I was looking for a site close to the need so they can actually get here without it costing too much money."

A stepping stone to a career

For many participants, this programme is more than just a course—it’s a chance to rebuild their futures. Kai, a current student, describes his experience: "It’s actually a very, very good opportunity. As soon as I found out about it, I jumped at it because it’s free, it’s local, and it’s giving me real skills." He adds, "Without this course, I don’t know what I would be doing right now."

The impact extends beyond the training period. The programme includes a three-to-four-week work experience placement, giving students the chance to prove themselves on-site and potentially secure long-term employment.

As Donna points out, "Even if we just get three out of twelve into full-time work, that’s three more skilled workers helping to bridge the industry’s skills gap."

The course has been a very hands-on experience and it’s developed my skills in other areas too, so it’s been a very, very good opportunity. I’ve made friends, learnt a lot about construction and I get a couple of qualifications out of it. If it wasn’t for the course, I don’t know where I would be. It gives us the boost we need to achieve. Seeing Tim, the site manager working; he just makes sure everything comes together, and the cogs spin – he’s like the mechanic and you just think, you know, you could be part of that machine, and I could maybe be the golden gear.

Kai Hannon, Student, NEET Construction Skills Programme

The power of collaboration

The programme’s success is driven by strong partnerships. Morgan Sindall has been instrumental in providing not just equipment and materials but also mentoring, work experience, and career guidance.

"Morgan Sindall can see these young people on their sites, working with their contractors and subcontractors," says Donna. “If they’re recruiting, why not take them from here? They’re ready."

Manchester City Council has also played a vital role in securing funding and ensuring young people in the region have access to vocational training. "Young people are the future of Manchester and the country as a whole," says Lauren Calderbank, Skills Programme Coordinator at Manchester City Council. "They need opportunities, and people to believe in them, so they can reach their goals."

“The feedback has been really great,” Lauren continues, “you can really see their personal growth and development of confidence levels. It can get a little bit emotional at times and it just proves why projects like this are needed.”

Everybody deserves to be valued and should be able to contribute to their community in whatever way that might be. So it’s really important for young people to have alternative opportunities and projects like these that help young people who are not sure what they want to do – it gives them a little bit of direction. Young people are the future, they’re the future of Manchester, the future of the country as a whole, so they need these opportunities and chances to reach their aspirations. The feedback has been really great – you can really see their personal growth and development of confidence levels. It can get a little bit emotional at times and it just proves why projects like this are needed.

Lauren Calderbank, Manchester City Council

A future
built on opportunity

At the heart of this initiative is the belief that everyone deserves a chance.

"For these young people, just turning up on time is an achievement," says Donna. "They come in, put on their PPE, and for the first time, they feel like they’re part of a team."

With plans to expand the programme to other locations, there is hope that more young people will have access to this invaluable stepping stone into the construction industry. "The journey is amazing," Donna reflects. "I still get phone calls and emails from past students thanking me for helping them find work. That’s what it’s all about."

For those unsure of their next steps, Kye has some advice: "Explore as many options as you can, get as much under your belt as possible, and use that to build your career. This course gave me a direction - maybe it can do the same for you."

Opening doors for neurodiverse talent

During Neurodiversity Week, we caught up with Harley, a 17-year-old from the Wythenshawe district of Manchester with neurodiverse conditions, including autism and ADHD.

Harley is currently participating in the Construction Academy course at our Dixons Academy site, and is currently in his third week of his work placement with dry lining company SCS.

We caught up with his mum, Helen, who shared her immense pride in Harley's journey.

Despite having academic struggles at school, and having struggled to open up to his mum about the course

at the start, Harley has progressed to full conversations with his mum, telling her what he did each day.

“It's amazing progress. He's really enjoyed the practical work placement in dry lining and is keen to progress in this trade. The course has helped him not just develop practical skills but confidence too!” said Helen.

You can read the full news article about Harleys story by clicking below:

Click here to read the story

A special graduation

Following their work placements as part of the Skills Academy, ten students celebrated their achievements at a special graduation day held at Wythenshawe FC.

The event marked a significant milestone in their journey toward employment in the construction industry and commenced with Jack Berry providing an insightful session on the role of a labour agency.

He addressed key questions about employment, including how the students would be paid, how to secure work, and the ongoing support available to them.

His guidance helped demystify the job-seeking process and set a strong foundation for their next steps.

A celebratory lunch of pizzas provided a chance for the students to reflect on their experiences and connect with industry professionals.

This was followed by interview sessions and registration with We Are Footprint, a social enterprise dedicated to building meaningful relationships with their clients and offering workforce solutions that create real value.

Seeing the learners achieve their qualifications was a very proud moment, Having Tim, Pete, and Alan there to present the certificates and CSCS cards made it even more special. Jack from We Are Footprint made such an impact on the learners, having the extra support after completing their training will be invaluable for their next steps.

Donna Brennan, Skills Construction Centre

The graduation was really good, I didn’t know anything about construction until I did this course - this course has inspired me to go into construction. I’ve registered with We are footprint and I can’t to wait to get into work!

Anthony Udumeh, Student, NEET Construction Skills Programme

Each student was then presented with a portfolio of their training certificates earned throughout the course, along with their CSCS card. Site manager Tim Spencer and Senior QS Scott McCrory personally handed out full toolkits to each graduate, recognising the young people's growth in confidence and ability throughout the programme.

Supply chain partners PLF Brickwork and SCS Solutions joined in congratulating the students, celebrating their hard work and dedication.

A standout moment came when Alan from SCS Solutions surprised Harley with the opportunity start full-time employment on-site for the remainder of the project, a testament to the impact of the Skills Academy programme.

The event concluded on a high note, with students leaving not only with the skills and tools for their careers but also with a sense of accomplishment and excitement for their futures in the construction industry.