Date: 9th and 19th September 2025
Location: Bright Direction Training, Bolton
Overview
In partnership with Seddon Construction and Bright Direction Training, We Are Footprint (WAF) delivered a two-day employability programme designed to bridge the gap between practical training and real-world construction careers. Running alongside the 1.5-week NOCN “The Construction Industry” course, this initiative formed a key part of Seddon’s wider social value strategy to support local people into sustainable employment.
The programme’s purpose was to ensure that participants not only completed their practical training but also gained a genuine, in-depth understanding of the construction sector.
Delivered through engaging, interactive sessions, WAF provided insight into employer culture, site behaviour, and professional standards, introducing attendees to the breadth of roles and career pathways within the industry, highlighting the expectations of modern employers, and exploring the working environment and culture found on today’s construction sites.
By showcasing real opportunities available in the local area, the workshops also helped each participant start building a professional network—an essential foundation for effective job searching once the main course concluded.
In addition to delivering these insight-driven workshops, every participant received individualised support through one-to-one career guidance and coaching. This ongoing support extends beyond the workshop, ensuring participants continue to benefit from direct links to employers and practical guidance on securing employment or further training.
By combining career information, personal coaching, and actionable planning, WAF successfully bridged the gap between the Bright Directions training and entry into the construction workforce. Participants left with personalised action plans, greater confidence, and a clearer view of how to access the hidden job market, helping them take the crucial first steps towards sustainable careers in construction.
Objectives
- Increase awareness of the range of roles in the construction industry.
- Empower participants to define and refine personal career goals.
- Identify existing strengths and barriers to employment.
- Provide clear, actionable steps toward employment or training.
- Improve confidence in engaging with agencies and employers.
Key Outcomes
- Enhanced industry awareness – participants gained a realistic understanding of construction roles, career pathways, and employer expectations.
- Local opportunities identified – individuals learned about live vacancies, upcoming projects, and employers in Bolton and the surrounding areas.
- Improved confidence and readiness – participants reported increased self-belief and clarity on their next steps into construction.
- Ongoing one-to-one support – continued guidance from WAF to connect participants with local employers and job openings beyond the programme.
- Stronger employability skills – practical job-search techniques, CV advice, and interview preparation to access the hidden job market.
- Contribution to social value goals – directly supported Seddon Construction’s commitment to creating local employment and skills opportunities.
Results
- Social Return On Investment (SROI): £7,601
- 2 participants are progressing onto work trials as a result of our WAF employer connections
Feedback
“The relationships that We are Footprint have with employers engaged our learners from the start. Beth struck up a great rapport, quickly engaging them with her subject knowledge of the construction industry. She established the learners previous employment and career aspirations to deliver the session to individual learners needs… and the one to one’s offered them further specific careers advice and potential employment opportunities in the construction industry…We are really looking forward to working more closely with We Are Footprint to move our learners into secure jobs and boost the local economy at the same time, for local people with local jobs.’
