Balfour Beatty engages with over 22,000 students through Scape framework

Balfour Beatty engages with over 22,000 students through Scape framework

Balfour Beatty is continuing its efforts to bridge the industry’s skills shortage through its collaboration with Scape Group, the public sector owned built environment specialist. Over the last three years, through the Scape National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework, Balfour Beatty has engaged with over 22,000 students in various events across the UK, to help them learn about the wide range of rewarding careers available across the construction and engineering industry.

Aimed at opening up the industry to students from different backgrounds and cultures, Balfour Beatty organised a series of live interactive broadcasts, site tours and classroom visits, allowing students to observe engineering works being undertaken from the top of a tower crane, ask questions of industry specialists and venture out on construction sites in Perth and Kinross.

Phil Wright, Balfour Beatty’s Scape National Framework Director, said: “Bridging the skills shortage is one of the biggest challenges our industry is currently facing. If we are to continue delivering the pipeline of new infrastructure the UK needs, we need to ensure we are attracting talented young people to a career in construction.

“We are actively engaging with students from all ages to provide them with the opportunity to understand the vast array of projects we deliver and how they could be involved in the future through numerous, interactive platforms.”

Victoria Brambini, Managing Director of Scape Procure, commented: “The number of students Balfour Beatty has engaged with is a really encouraging outcome. It highlights the added value that can be achieved through construction projects when the public and private sectors work in strong collaboration. Inspiring the next generation to build brighter futures and careers in the construction industry is key as we seek to address the skills shortage and meet the UK’s infrastructure requirements.”

With over 150 schools already engaged, Balfour Beatty is planning to reach thousands more students with further activities planned in Warrington, Dundee, and Cardiff. The approach further supports Balfour Beatty’s commitment to The 5% Club, a UK employer-led initiative focused on creating momentum behind the recruitment of apprentices and graduates into the workforce.