Supporting Local Employment at The Place

Throughout construction, Morgan Sindall launched several initiatives aimed at promoting local employment by equipping young individuals with essential skills and introducing them to careers in the construction sector.

Opportunities included hosting 70 students from East Norfolk Sixth Form and East Coast College onsite, providing students with access to witness active construction and allowing them to gain valuable, practical insights into the industry and exposure to a variety of roles available in construction, covering disciplines from surveying and business studies to interior design and brickwork.

Two T-Level students completed 45-day industry placements, and three brickwork students gained hands-on experience through dedicated placements, helping students build confidence, skills, and real-world insight into construction careers.

The project also highlighted successful pathways into employment, with the project team donating 178 hours to supporting unemployed people into work, providing 370 apprenticeship weeks and 37 work placement weeks.

Overall, social value initiatives like this demonstrate that investing in construction and local talent can help rebuild not just structures, but also futures.

Two local bricklaying students, Dylan and Richard (both 18), secured full-time jobs after successful two-week placements. They were offered permanent positions with Morgan Sindall's supply chain partner, Quantrill Contractors. Their transition from East Coast College students to professionals within the construction industry highlights the advantages of collaboration between educators and industry.

Talking of his experience, Dylan said: “The theory I was taught at college has put me in a really good position, but now that I'm on site, I'm gaining so much hands-on experience and working on an older building offers loads of challenging opportunities."

He added that working at The Place offered him a chance to “get involved in other areas of construction, like demolition, labouring and bricklaying and other trades. I’m basically a sponge, looking to absorb as much as I can by watching the other tradesmen, seeing what they're doing and constantly asking questions.”

Richard added "I would argue that I learned more in the two weeks onsite than in the two years in college. Being here has taught me about all the different types of bricks, their purpose, and how to match and blend new bricks to maintain that old-style look."

David Newall, Brickwork Lecturer at East Coast College, concluded: “We've never had that link up with industry before, which means we've not been able to securely connect those students with employment. This has been the most successful year I've had in my career, having 14 out of 17 learners go into industry.”