My name is Jemma and I am a researcher at WISERD working on the Building Social Value and Fair Work in Construction project. The project explores how the construction sector can create real opportunities for people facing barriers to employment.
The construction industry in Wales is facing skills shortages, with thousands of vacancies remaining unfilled despite a decline in employment. Yet, many young people are unaware of the full range of career opportunities available in the sector, especially in plant and groundworks, which are often overlooked in favour of traditional trades like carpentry and plumbing.
ARC Plant and Civils Training (ARC) is tackling this challenge head-on. As part of their plant and civils training, they offer candidates the chance to learn in a real-life construction environment. One site I visited exemplifies this approach, providing hands-on training in plant operation and groundwork skills that prepare learners for employment.
What sets this course apart is that it is delivered to schoolchildren close to school-leaving age and at risk of disengagement. The programme is part of ARC’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities. As part of the Building Social Value and Fair Work project, I explored how this groundworks course re-engages young people through practical construction training.
The programme is delivered in partnership with local Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), ensuring academic education remains part of the journey. A PRU is an educational establishment for young people who have been excluded from school or need additional support.
Teaching assistants from the PRU attend sessions to support learners, helping bridge the gap between vocational and academic learning. As their tutor noted, “They don’t like learning in the classroom… but when you get them here, they work as a team, they measure, they calculate, it’s all vocationally contextualised.”
This blend of academic and hands-on learning not only re-engages young people but also prepares them for future employment in a meaningful and supportive environment.
The training is rigorous and safety-focused, preparing young people to work on site. Learners are taught to operate machinery such as dumper trucks and 360 excavators safely and correctly, gaining not only technical skills but also an understanding of workplace expectations and standards. Their tutor explained, “We’ve got a whole scheme of work which outlines safety-critical training, manual handling, first aid, dumper trucks, CSCS, brush cutter and strimmer. These are the qualifications.”
ARC’s groundworks course offers more than just practical construction training. It provides a unique form of engagement for young people who struggle in traditional classroom settings. As their tutor explained, “They hate doing maths, they hate writing down. The machines are the carrot. They love the machines.” By combining classroom learning with hands-on experience in a real-world construction environment, ARC creates a space where young people can thrive and build confidence.
The training takes place on a historic colliery site, which ARC is helping to refurbish in partnership with local trustees. Young people not only learn construction skills but also contribute to the site’s regeneration, creating a sense of ownership and pride in their work.
ARC Plant and Civils Training’s approach to construction alternative provision not only addresses the skills gap in Wales’ construction industry, but also engages young people at risk of disengagement by blending vocational training with academic support. The programme helps young people develop the skills they will need for future employment and also encourages a sense of pride and ownership through their contributions to the regeneration of a local site.
We are keen to keep sharing grounded, practice-based insights from across the sector. If you are involved in a project that is making a difference, or know of one that should be highlighted, please get in touch with Jemma Bridgeman at BridgemanJ1@cardiff.ac.uk to share your story, build connections, or explore potential collaboration.