Educate, Inspire and Empower
Educate, Inspire and Empower
As the Procurement Director of National Highways and a passionate advocate for initiatives that deliver social value alongside our procurement activities, I am incredibly proud to have been involved with Constructing Change from the very beginning.
At National Highways we work tirelessly managing and improving the motorways and major A-Roads of England whilst ensuring we make a real difference for our customers – both road-users and those who live and work near our network. We embed social value into everything we do, and everyone involved in our work contributes to delivering these measurable benefits. Promoting the development of skills and education, supporting communities and creating more inclusive workplaces are key parts of our Social Value Plan.
The ambitions of Constructing Change are clear, and there is a powerful synergy between its mission to improve opportunities in construction for young people through education and the goals set out in National Highways’ own Social Value Plan. We share a common commitment to foster an even more inclusive and diverse construction industry.
At National Highways, we are actively identifying opportunities within our projects and our supply chain that allow Constructing Change to introduce teenagers to the wonderful world of the highway industry. By opening young people’s eyes to a potential career in construction that they might not otherwise have considered, we hope to inspire them to pursue opportunities in this sector with the same enthusiasm we have.
I can see that Constructing Change’s Learning in Action site visits are having a truly positive impact. These benefits will only increase as more and more organisations and projects become involved in the programme and open their doors to engage with the schools and colleges close to their projects.
I urge you to consider how Constructing Change could positively impact your company. If you’re looking for ways to improve diversity in your organisation and attract the construction talent of the future, this is an ideal opportunity. With social value now at the heart of many clients’ requirements and increasingly recognised as the ‘right thing to do’, this becomes more and more important for companies. Engagement with communities local to your projects in this way is invaluable and could be a key contribution to the achievement of your social value ambitions.
I am confident that Constructing Change will continue to grow, and the benefits of its work will reach even further, inspiring and empowering young people across the country while advancing the construction industry. We hope that you will join us on this journey and be a part of its future.
Categories: Insights