Morgan Sindall Construction and Willmott Dixon have joined forces as part of their commitment with SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public procurement authorities, and Procure Partnerships to offer final-year university students invaluable support through a mentor programme that helps prepare them for the world of work.
Through the STEER programme, undergraduates at Nottingham Trent University visited two live sites in Bingham, Nottingham, to gain a greater understanding of the construction process and the diverse career opportunities available outside of the classroom.
Bingham Primary School, procured through SCAPE Construction – a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency time and cost savings, is being built by Morgan Sindall Construction and designed and project managed by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, while Bingham Arena and Enterprise Centre is being constructed by Willmott Dixon for Rushcliffe Borough Council.
STEER Support & Mentoring CIC was founded in 2016 due to a lack of support in the built environment for undergraduates transitioning from education to industry. The programme seeks to ensure final-year students from all backgrounds are confident, connected, and feel part of the sector’s community so they can forge fulfilling careers and contribute to a sustainable future.
The students are matched with professional mentors who have similar interests and through one-to-one sessions, mentees can discuss their CVs, potential jobs, networking opportunities and work experience. Crucially, mentors are selected from underrepresented groups in the industry, such as women, minority ethnic people, those with disabilities and the LGBT+ community.