Case Study: Balfour Beatty and Saco

Balfour Beatty and Barnardo’s Works continue to work closely on the CITB-funded Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities (SACO) project. This project supports young people to make the move into construction sector jobs whilst also giving them access to relevant industry-recognised training. Aimed at 16 to 29-year-olds who are unemployed or not in training, SACO provides young people with education, training, site readiness qualifications and access to jobs in the construction industry.

Balfour Beatty supports the project by providing opportunities for young people to meet those already employed in the industry, whilst also giving young people the chance to visit and experience a construction work environment through work tasters.

Balfour Beatty recently delivered a comprehensive work taster to four young people participating in the Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities. The day offered insights into various construction roles, safety procedures, and what it’s like to be involved in a real-life construction project:

Career Exploration: Through engaging with experienced professionals, the young participants gained a deeper understanding of diverse construction career paths.

Confidence Building: The work taster boosted the confidence and self-esteem of the participants, making them more work-ready.

Inspiration: The experience further inspired these young people to pursue careers in construction, address both the industry’s skills gap and youth unemployment.