Two young people in high vis jackets and hard hats

OPDC and Construction Youth Trust partner to get local young people into construction careers

Type:
Press release
Category:
Communities

Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) has teamed up with Construction Youth Trust to unlock real career pathways for young people across Brent, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham, placing local talent at the heart of one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects.

OPDC covers over 650 hectares of west London that spans Brent, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham. Its flagship regeneration project at Old Oak will create up to 11,000 jobs and 8,000 homes, generating a huge pipeline of employment opportunities in the built environment. This new partnership will ensure local young people can access them.

Construction Youth Trust, a leading social mobility charity, will work with OPDC to deliver a two‑year programme reaching 1,800 young people, inspiring them to explore careers in construction and connecting them directly with employers, industry professionals and hands‑on experiences.

The programme will link major employers with local schools, offering workshops, site visits and immersive projects that help young people build confidence, skills and networks - whether they’re interested in engineering, architecture, trades or other future‑focused careers. 

Old Oak will create thousands of opportunities, and we want local young people to be first in line. Together with Construction Youth Trust, we want to support young people who are struggling to access employment and training opportunities with this new programme which responds to the significant challenges young people face in getting into work.

Matthew Carpen, Chief Executive, OPDC

Old Oak is one of the most significant regeneration projects in the country, creating thousands of jobs and opportunities for future generations. Together, we want to ensure that local young people can see themselves as part of that future.

Through this partnership, we will connect young people with inspiring industry professionals, behind the scenes site visits, meaningful work experience opportunities and, ultimately, pathways into apprenticeships, further education and employment. We are incredibly excited to work alongside OPDC and industry partners to help a new generation of Londoners access rewarding, life changing careers while supporting the future talent needs of our sector.

Carol Lynch, Chief Executive, Construction Youth Trust

Contact the press team

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 9am-5pm, 020 7983 5732
  • Out of hours: GLA press office, 020 7983 4000

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