This summer, 10 London residents completed Marlborough Highways’ three-week Introduction to Highways programme, gaining the practical skills, industry knowledge and hands-on experience needed to take their next steps into employment.

Delivered in partnership with The Skills Centre and supported by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Havering Council and Newham Council, the programme combined classroom-based learning with practical, hands-on training.

With backing from the Mayor of London and the European Social Fund, all 10 participants successfully completed the course, gaining industry-recognised qualifications and valuable experience across a range of highways activities.

Following the successful completion of the programme, each participant was then invited to Marlborough’s annual Apprenticeship Assessment Day, giving them the opportunity to meet colleagues from across the business, demonstrate their skills and interview for a place on our Operational Apprenticeship Programme.

Covering a variety of disciplines, from highways maintenance to street lighting, our operational programme gives apprentices the opportunity to earn a living wage while developing recognised qualifications and practical experience, all with the support of dedicated mentoring.

For young people not in education, employment or training, initiatives like this are vital in creating a clearer, more supportive route into our industry and the wider world of work.

Reflecting on the success of this scheme, Nula Krawczynski, Marlborough’s Social Value Manager, said:

“At Marlborough, we’re committed to creating opportunities where young people can build rewarding careers in our industry. Working closely with local authorities, as well as our partners at The Skills Centre, we’ve really been able to support local care-experienced adults as they take their first steps towards employment.

The enthusiasm and progress shown by all six participants has been fantastic to see. We’re incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved over the past three weeks, and look forward to seeing where their journey takes them next.”

Councillor Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:

“As well as helping the council get things done by making Greenwich’s roads safer and easier to use, Marlborough are helping to uplift and inspire local people, and make a difference in our communities through employability programmes like this.

“With any contract we sign with partners, we want to know that they’ll also be contributing to the overall wellbeing of our borough and our residents beyond the main service they provide, and Marlborough’s employability training is a great example of this.”

John Fenton, Centre Director at The Skills Centre, said:

“The joint venture between Marlborough and The Skills Centre provided a fantastic opportunity for young people leaving care to enhance their skills and knowledge of the construction industry, take part in practical hands-on training, gain a level one in Construction and a CSCS card that will allow them to find work throughout the industry.”