A group of Year 8 students from Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust has been welcomed to a major city centre development site in Leeds as part of Ahead Partnership’s Shaping Our Future programme, which aims to prevent young people from becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
The four-year engagement programme provides students with an opportunity to develop essential employability skills and build confidence through a series of activities designed to broaden their understanding of future career pathways.
Over the course of three days, 40 students visited Caddick Construction’s SOYO Block D project, which is developer Moda Living’s first student accommodation development off York Road in Leeds. The pupils were tasked with a tower-building challenge encouraging teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, and participated in a goal-setting and action-planning session to help identify personal aspirations and practical steps to achieve them.
Through a guided site tour and trying their hand at bricklaying, the students gained first-hand insight into the scale and complexity of a live development scheme and learned about the wide range of careers involved in delivering major construction projects. The students also heard from the Managing Director of Caddick Construction Group, who shared his own story of starting his career as an apprentice bricklayer and the opportunities it created.
Throughout the duration of the programme, the students are supported by a dedicated group of volunteers selected by Ahead Partnership to attend every workshop, build meaningful relationships with participants, and provide ongoing encouragement. This consistent presence creates a supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas, ambitions, and concerns.
The collaboration forms part of Caddick’s continued commitment to supporting local communities and inspiring the next generation by providing engagement opportunities that connect education with industry.
Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director at Caddick Construction North East & Yorkshire, commented: “We’re proud to support Ahead Partnership’s Shaping Our Future programme to help young people recognise the opportunities available to them. It was fantastic to welcome the students from Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust to our SOYO Block D site and give them hands-on insight into the construction industry. By providing real-world experiences and meaningful interactions with industry professionals, we hope to help raise their aspirations and equip the students with the confidence and skills needed to pursue their future ambitions.”
Andy Clarke, Partnerships Director at Ahead Partnership, said: “Businesses such as Caddick are playing a crucial role in helping the young people we work with to understand the opportunities available to them, particularly within key sectors such as the built environment. Though we’re less than six months into the programme, the schools we work with are already seeing more than half of their students improve their attendance, highlighting the transformational impact that this kind of early engagement can have.
“As we look ahead to delivering the next cohort of the programme, we’re actively seeking further support from organisations who share our commitment to helping young people reach their potential. With the right backing, we can continue to expand our reach and ensure even more students benefit from these transformative experiences.”
Tarry Depledge, Head of ESG at Moda, added: “Creating opportunities for young people to experience the wide range of careers in the built environment first-hand is an important part of creating successful places and communities, while developing the next generation of talent our sector will rely on in the years ahead.
“We’re proud to support initiatives like this alongside our Caddick Group colleagues and Ahead Partnership. At SOYO Block D, as with all Moda communities, we’re committed to creating places that make a lasting contribution to their cities, not just through the new student homes, but by investing in skills, education and opportunities that will benefit Leeds for the long term.”
