A programme helping young people to enter the construction industry in Essex has celebrated a successful first year.
The Building a Lasting Legacy Programme (BaLL), which is expected to run for five years, involves three schools across Chelmsford with the goal of inspiring young talent to join the sector.
To celebrate the achievements made during BaLL’s inaugural year, Year 9 students, parents, and industry professionals gathered for a special event at Chelmsford College.
The event showcased the skills and enthusiasm of students from each of the three schools, who took part in a wide range of construction-related activities throughout the academic year.
This included in-school activity days, site visits and practical workshops in skills ranging from painting and decorating to carpentry and electrical installation, alongside plumbing, civil engineering and digital design using CAD and BIM.
The programme was developed by tier-one contractor Morgan Sindall Construction in partnership with Essex County Council (ECC).
Christina Sapsed, a Tutor from Hylands School, said: “Seeing our students embrace the challenges and thrive in the different environments is wonderful.
“Without the valuable support from companies such as Morgan Sindall and Essex County Council, these events would not be possible. They provided their time and resources to invest in pupils’ future from a young age.
“Inspiring students to enter the profession and to see how vast the opportunities are to them is priceless.”
The initiative brings together multiple local stakeholders, including The Sandon School, The Boswells School, Hylands School, Chelmsford College, Greater Essex Careers Hub, The Careers and Enterprise Company and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), alongside 20 different Essex-based suppliers and subcontractors.
Eight students who demonstrated exceptional commitment and skill throughout the programme received awards during the event.
Parents and carers attended talks on post-16 and post-18 education pathways, where they heard directly from employers about what they look for in future recruits.
A panel discussion led by Morgan Sindall featured representatives from leading construction firms including Ingleton Wood, Kier Construction, Ringway Jacobs, GSQ Brickwork and Site Ready Solutions.
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “The success of the first year of Building a Lasting Legacy shows the value of education and industry coming together.
“Students have grown in confidence, gained new skills and are seeing construction as a real career option. It’s a strong foundation for the years ahead.”
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity, added: “It’s fantastic to see so many local businesses actively supporting young people through this programme.
“Their commitment is helping to shape the future workforce and create real opportunities. I’m excited to see how Building a Lasting Legacy continues to grow and evolve in the coming years.”
Launched in 2024 the BaLL programme has already exceeded its initial target, engaging over 108 students in its first year.
Its successes have seen it shortlisted in the Excellence in Construction Skills category at the Essex Housing Awards 2025.
Helen Clements, Senior Social Value Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, added: “During the Building a Lasting Legacy programme’s inaugural year, we’ve seen first-hand how vital this support and investment is for young people within our communities.
“For example, some of the pupils have found mainstream education difficult but have really engaged with the programme and are now on a path to further mentorship, experience, and opportunities in the future.
“On top of this, we know that programmes like this will unlock the skills and talent the county’s built environment sector needs to create the high quality, sustainable buildings of tomorrow.
“All of this makes the Building a Lasting Legacy project very close to the hearts of Morgan Sindall’s Chelmsford-based team, and we can’t wait to see what the next four years bring.”