Inspiring the Next Generation: Supporting Young People into the Construction Industry

At Grow Forward, sustainability is not just about carbon reduction and energy efficiency—it is also about people. A truly sustainable industry requires a strong, skilled, and diverse workforce ready to meet the challenges of the future. That is why a key part of my work extends beyond consultancy and into actively supporting young people as they explore careers in construction and the built environment.

Working with the Construction Youth Trust

The Construction Youth Trust is a fantastic organisation dedicated to helping young people access opportunities within the construction sector. Their focus is on supporting those who may face barriers to employment—whether through lack of access, awareness, or confidence—and connecting them with meaningful career pathways.
Through my involvement, I have had the opportunity to directly engage with young people at a crucial stage in their decision-making journey. The Trust’s work is highly practical, bridging the gap between education and industry by offering real-world insights, employer connections, and hands-on experiences.
My role has been to support these initiatives by bringing industry perspective, helping translate what a career in construction actually looks like today—far beyond outdated perceptions.

Championing the Industry with the Builders Merchants Federation

Alongside this, I act as an Ambassador for the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), which represents the UK’s building materials supply sector. This role is particularly important because merchants sit at the heart of the construction supply chain, yet are often overlooked when young people consider career options.
As an Ambassador, the focus is on raising awareness of the breadth of opportunities within the sector—from logistics and operations through to sales, sustainability, and strategic leadership. The message is clear: this is an industry with long-term career potential, strong progression routes, and increasing relevance as the UK transitions towards Net Zero.

Practical Engagement: Making Careers Real

Supporting young people is not about theory—it is about interaction, exposure, and confidence-building. Over the past year, I have been involved in a range of activities designed to do exactly that:

• Careers fairs – Engaging directly with students to discuss pathways into construction, apprenticeships, and alternative routes beyond traditional academic progression.
• Mock interviews – Helping young people prepare for real-world recruitment processes, offering feedback on communication, confidence, and how to present their strengths.
• “Speed dating” employer sessions – Short, focused conversations that allow students to meet multiple industry professionals, ask questions, and gain a broader understanding of roles available.
• Industry talks and events – Including speaking at major platforms such as New Scientist Live, where the aim is to position construction as an innovative, technology-driven, and sustainable career choice.

These interactions are often transformative. Many young people initially have limited awareness of what the industry offers. By the end of these sessions, they begin to see construction not just as a job, but as a sector full of opportunity, innovation, and purpose.

Changing Perceptions of Construction

One of the biggest challenges is perception. Construction is still too often viewed narrowly—focused on traditional site roles—when in reality it is evolving rapidly.
Today’s industry includes:

• Digital technologies and data-driven decision-making
• Renewable energy and battery storage systems
• Sustainable materials and circular supply chains
• Advanced manufacturing and offsite construction

By sharing real examples from my own work in sustainability, solar PV, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), I am able to demonstrate how the sector is changing—and why it is an exciting place to build a career.

Building a Sustainable Future Workforce

There is a direct link between engaging young people and achieving Net Zero. The transition to a low-carbon built environment will require new skills, new thinking, and a workforce that is both technically capable and sustainability-aware.
Supporting organisations like the Construction Youth Trust and working with the BMF is therefore not separate from my consultancy work—it is an extension of it. It is about ensuring that the industry has the talent pipeline needed to deliver long-term change.

A Personal Commitment

This work is something I take seriously. Having spent over 30 years in the building materials and construction sector, I understand both its challenges and its opportunities. Supporting young people is a way of giving back, but also of helping shape the future of an industry that is critical to the UK’s economy and sustainability goals.
At Grow Forward, the mission is to drive forward sustainable solutions—but that future depends on people. By engaging, supporting, and inspiring the next generation, we are not just building careers—we are building the foundations of a more sustainable industry.