Lendlease: Building Futures for local young people

Lendlease, developers of the Royal Docks flagship development site at Silvertown, have been working with Inspire Education Business Partnership and local schools to engage young people in a range of education and careers related learning. The initiatives, which include mentoring, a tailored Additional Needs programme and work experience placements, are designed to support career pathways and build employability skills, ensuring local young people benefit from the regeneration of the Royal Docks.

Lendlease have been engaged in the Mentoring Programme for the past two years in collaboration with Silvertown based Oasis Academy, facilitated by Inspire EBP. This programme targets Year 9 students transitioning to Year 10, offering them a chance to interact with industry professionals. The aim is to help students set goals, seek guidance, and gain insights into the professional world through monthly sessions throughout the academic year. So far, 18 members of Lendlease staff have volunteered, dedicating their time as mentors and providing structured training and information sessions. Activities range from employer insight videos, mock interviews, workplace visits, to motivation training sessions, all crafted to boost employability skills and leadership qualities.

The culmination of this year's mentoring was marked by a site visit to the Lendlease’s Silvertown offices, offering students firsthand experience of a major development project and enhancing their understanding and engagement with the real-world applications of their learning.

This year, Lendlease also worked with Inspire to develop and participate in an Additional Needs pilot programme. Recognising that mainstream careers initiatives are often inaccessible to students with Additional Needs, this pilot aimed to address the unique challenges faced by these young people, providing them with tailored and flexible support. Working with Newham school, JFK in Plaistow, Lendlease worked with young people aged 11-18, delivering a year-long engagement programme adjusted to meet the diverse needs of the cohort, and focussed on building soft skills, employability skills, and career prospects.

Additionally, in line with Lendlease’s commitment to supporting STEM engagement and widening participation in the construction industry, they are working with local schools to offer work experience placements. In July, two students from Oasis Academy and LDEUTC gained invaluable experience on-site at Silvertown, learning about the complexities involved in delivering a large-scale construction project.

By 2029, more than 3,500 new jobs will be created across the Royal Docks, many of these in professional and highly-skilled roles. As one of the youngest and most diverse areas in the country, a key priority for the Royal Docks Team is ensuring young people can access the opportunities generated by the area’s comprehensive regeneration programme. Lendlease’s work with young people and schools will support a pipeline of local talent, improve representation across target sectors, raising aspirations and equipping young people with the skills and experience to secure employment within the industry.