Construction firm helps West Midlands youngsters build a better future

National construction and interiors business Willmott Dixon has cemented a new relationship with Sport 4 Life UK, in a bid to help young people supported by the Birmingham charity build a better future.

The partnership will deliver skills, training and employment opportunities to beneficiaries of the Digbeth-based organisation which provides sports-themed personal development programmes to people aged between 11 and 29.

Activities led by Willmott Dixon are set to include talks and workshops about the construction industry, site visits, mock interviews and application guidance, with the aim of offering a pathway towards employment in the construction sector.

The business, which has two offices in the West Midlands, is confident that the initiative will strengthen community wellbeing, enhance life chances and leave a legacy in the areas in which it works. Sport 4 Life UK operates out of the Custard Factory and works with more than 1,000 young people from hard-to-reach neighbourhoods across the region.

Of the partnership, Marie Wilkes, Senior Social Value Manager at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’re seriously impressed with the work Sport 4 Life UK has been doing with youngsters who might not otherwise have a chance to realise their true potential. We’re very proud to be involved and are looking forward to assisting youngsters into a rewarding career in the construction sector, which offers a wide range of opportunities from bricklaying and surveying to management and marketing.”

Rob Wells, Head of Business Development at Sport 4 Life UK, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to Willmott Dixon for choosing to work with us and help open up a range of opportunities to our beneficiaries. I’ve no doubt this partnership will prove life-changing for some of the people we support, as it’s sure to provide that first step towards learning a valuable trade and sustained employment. Partnerships with businesses such as Willmott Dixon are vital to our mission, as they give youngsters a chance to gain on-the-job experience, build confidence and grow a network of contacts.”

Willmott Dixon is a national construction and interiors company that aims to deliver brilliant buildings, transform lives, strengthen communities and enhance the environment so the world is fit for future generations.

Established in 2006, Sport 4 Life UK exists to provide sports-themed personal development programmes to young people who are not in education, employment or training.

In the year to June 2021, the charity supported a total of 1,015 youngsters with on and offline mentoring, qualifications, and training programmes, in addition to structured sports sessions. That figure is expected to grow over the next 12 months, as a result of the impact of the pandemic on the economy. Businesses interested in working with Sport 4 Life UK to support young people should go to: www.sport4life.org.uk/work-with-us/

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