Championing young people and careers in construction

10/02/2025

A pathway to opportunity

Since its inception, FutureIN has supported 59 individuals through pre-employment coaching. Ten participants are currently employed, half on apprenticeships, and half on pre-apprenticeship or work placements/internships. The first official apprenticeship completion is expected in May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the programme's journey. 

Nicholas Bewes, CEO, Howard Group, commented: "We are incredibly proud of FutureIN’s impact to date, but we know there is much more to do. By working together across the construction and developer community, we can create real change, helping young people build careers, gain financial independence, and contribute to the growth of our local economy. Howard Group continues to be committed to supporting our community and ensuring that the next generation has the opportunity to thrive."

Collaboration at the heart of success

TrAC is a not-for-profit ‘Flexi Job Apprenticeship Agency’ which provides shared Apprenticeship opportunities to apprentices, whilst also helping contractors to meet apprenticeship targets on short term projects. By working with over 20 construction contractors and developers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, the programme provides hands-on experience, skills training, and employment support in the sector.

Paul Wright, Project Director at TrAC, emphasised the role of collaboration in FutureIN’s achievements: "From its beginnings over two years ago, when the first young person joined Howard Group’s Unity Campus as an apprentice groundworker with Morgan Sindall, FutureIN has grown into a robust programme. With partnerships spanning 20 contractors and developers, the goodwill and support among stakeholders has been phenomenal. Backing from CPCA, Cambridge City Council, LandAid, Howard Group, DWP, and Urban & Civic has been crucial in establishing a sustainable model for the future."

Employer success stories: Morgan Sindall & SDC

Morgan Sindall Construction has played a key role in FutureIN, surpassing its initial target by hiring six interns during the Unity Campus project. Four of these individuals have since secured permanent employment, and one has transitioned to the Mill Yard project in central Cambridge. Over the next two years, Morgan Sindall aims to provide 11 more internships at Mill Yard.

Jamie Shearman, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “The FutureIN programme has proven itself to be an extremely valuable support mechanism for vulnerable young people in the Cambridge area. What’s more, it’s helping to train the next generation of construction professionals across a range of in-demand skills. This talent is needed in the built environment sector to develop the sustainable, high-quality buildings we need to live, learn and relax in, which means that FutureIN is already creating a legacy in more ways than one.” 

SDC, a leading contractor operating under an Employee Benefit Trust, has also embraced FutureIN, hosting five participants to date, with two currently engaged and two more set to start soon. The company is poised to become the second-largest supporter of FutureIN apprenticeships after Morgan Sindall.

Building a legacy for the future

With Cambridge’s economic growth making headlines, FutureIN exemplifies how businesses can support social mobility and create inclusive opportunities. By transitioning vulnerable young people into employment with ongoing support, FutureIN is helping to build resilient and skilled individuals and a workforce that will shape the region’s future.

For construction, property, and development companies looking to get involved, please contact Radhiya Lovatt on 07470 609485 or email sue@tracweb.co.uk. Young people seeking opportunities can register at www.futurein.org.uk/