Our Social Value Legacy Plan is all about how together with our construction partner, Laing O’Rourke, we will make a long-lasting positive difference to our local communities. Laing O’Rourke has already partnered with local schools to raise aspirations and showcase the wide range of careers available in construction.

In the last three months the team have attended four careers fairs and a mock interview day, reaching more than 2,000 students, as well as supporting seven apprenticeship-focused assemblies within the local area, engaging around 380 students. They spoke to students about the new clinical build and opportunities for careers in construction and engineering. 

The feedback has been fantastic with one teacher saying: "The assembly really inspired our students to explore the opportunities Laing O'Rourke offer and have provided the motivation they need to focus on their studies and start their apprenticeship application journey."

One of the school careers advisors said: “It was aspiration raising for them [the students], finding out about the apprenticeship opportunities that a huge international company has for them so close to home. It was great for us as a school."

Student feedback included:

"I really liked hearing about all the great things the company does and to see the kind of projects I could be working on. I'm really excited to apply."

"I have always wanted to apply for an apprenticeship and never knew what to do. […] now I finally know the steps I need to take."

Assistant Director, Transformation and Partnerships, Fran Hewitt, said: "This engagement supports our CHFT priorities around workforce development and benefiting the local community. By connecting young people with real career pathways, we’re helping to build a future talent pipeline and strengthen opportunities for our communities for the long term."

Pictured from Laing O'Rourke: Social Value Graduate, Fay Batey (left) and Engineer, Sally Plum.