Building Plymouth has officially relaunched its flagship Adopt a School programme which connects local construction businesses with schools across the city.
The programme aims to inspire young people to explore careers in construction and the built environment, while strengthening the pipeline of future talent for the industry.
The relaunch was celebrated at the Building Plymouth members meeting on 25 June, hosted by Foot Anstey.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships at Plymouth City Council said: “Given the growth and investment in Plymouth, it is absolutely crucial that our children and young people are fully aware of the fantastic career pathways available in construction.
“I’d like to thank local construction companies for ‘adopting’ our schools and creating these new strategic relationships to improve awareness and engagement.”
Through the Adopt a School programme, each participating school is matched with a named construction professional who acts as a key contact and ambassador. These ambassadors provide tailored support to schools, including careers talks, site visits, mentoring, and curriculum-linked activities.
The initiative is coordinated by Building Plymouth’s 5E’s Group, which streamlines engagement and shares best practice across the network.
Sam Morcumb, Chair of the 5E’s Group and Business Development and Bid Manager at BuildX (SW), commented: “Our ambassadors don’t just build structures, they lay the foundation for future talent. This is game-changing work that gives young people access to real-world experiences and opportunities they might never have imagined.”
The programme already boasts a strong list of confirmed partnerships, including:
- AECOM with Lipson Cooperative Academy
- Balfour Beatty with UTC Plymouth
- Drew and Co with Brook Green Centre for Learning
- Obedair Construction with St Boniface Catholic College.
Schools have welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm. Emily Waterfield, Work Based Learning Coordinator at Brook Green Centre for Learning, said:
“We’re delighted to be partnered with Drew & Co. This collaboration will help introduce our students to careers in mechanical and electrical engineering, supported by real-life experiences that enhance our STEM curriculum.”
Rachael Hudson of St Boniface’s Catholic College added: “Obedair has already made a huge impact by setting up an alternative provision within our school, giving students vital hands-on experience in a variety of trades.”
Building Plymouth is calling on more construction businesses and schools to get involved, helping to expand the reach and impact of this transformative programme.
For more information or to get involved, please contact [email protected].