We had the pleasure of an amazing talk on routes into construction, apprenticeships as an older person, and women in construction from Sophie, a Surveyor at Sir Robert McAlpine.
We met Sophie through our partners at the Stanhope Foundation, and after seeing the incredible work being done at the Multi-Skills Hub, she kindly volunteered her time to come back and talk with our clients.
From the moment she started speaking, you could feel the room change.
We were all blown away. The talk was honest, gritty, knowledgeable, and genuinely powerful. Sophie didn’t just talk about construction as an industry, she broke it down in a way that made it feel real and accessible. She spoke about different routes in, not just the traditional path, but apprenticeships later in life, starting from the bottom and working up, and finding your place even when you’re not sure where you fit.
She spoke openly about challenges, about not always knowing what direction to take, and about pushing through anyway. That honesty is what connected.
For many of our trainees especially those who have experienced homelessness figuring out what you want to do in life can feel overwhelming. The idea of a long-term career can feel distant. But Sophie’s talk cut through that. It showed, clearly and powerfully, that with hard work, determination, and the right support, there are real pathways forward.
You could see it happening within the room ,trainees who would normally sit back were leaning in. Listening closely, following every word. Then came the questions curious, thoughtful, and full of intent. She helped people explore options they hadn’t considered before: What would be my best route? gaining further qualifications, starting at entry level, or stepping into apprenticeships? Giving clients different variations and out comes all with a with a clear sense of progression.
Hearing that people within Sir Robert McAlpine a company with over 150 years of Construction history, delivering some of the UK’s most iconic construction projects had staff at director level who started out as apprentices was a real eye-opener. It made progression feel real It showed that success isn’t one straight path it’s something that can be built over time.
The support from our partners through sponsoring programmes, supplying materials, helping with further training, and offering site visits is something we are incredibly grateful for, and we simply wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them.
But talks like Sophie’s and the training hubs go even deeper than that.
They bring everything to life.
They open minds.
They shift thought patterns.
They give people something they may not have felt in a long time….belief.
Belief that they can achieve.
Belief that there are real opportunities out there.
Belief that their past doesn’t define their future.
And what really showed the impact was what happened after the session.
Clients didn’t just leave.
They stayed. They gathered around Sophie, continuing the conversation over a coffee asking more questions, opening up about their own journeys, wanting to know how they could take those next steps. Conversations that wouldn’t normally happen, happening naturally.
And that’s exactly why this work matters with our training and partnerships who invest in our clients journeys.
