Breaking barriers for the construction industry

In 2023, we delivered a number of initiatives to help break down barriers to careers in construction. 

Social Enterprise Accelerator & Development programme  

We launched our Social Enterprise Accelerator & Development programme (SEAD) to provide an opportunity for our people to support small business and social enterprises. In the first pilot, our UK Construction Services business’ executive team volunteered their expertise on business strategy and growth, supporting the social enterprises’ development and also to explore ways of working with Balfour Beatty. 

Over a six-month period, we delivered a total of 112 hours of support which generated £11,000 of social value. The social enterprises involved programme included, Connection Crew, Ethstat, Grace Enterprises, Madlug, Mediorite, Saz Media, Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), Community Wood Recycling, The Shaw Trust, Scott Direct, Waste to Wonder and We are Social Enterprise. 

As well as benefitting from the guidance and support from our experts, Ethstat, Community Wood Recycling, Madlug and Waste to Wonder are now approved UK supply chain partners.  

Breaking barriers to the Built Environment for people with disabilities 

In collaboration with Nuneaton Signs, we organised a workshop to raise awareness of the career opportunities in the construction industry for those with disabilities. Nuneaton Signs, a social enterprise and one of Balfour Beatty’s supply chain partners, already has a diverse workforce where 70% of their employees have a disability. 

Teams from The Operator Skills Hub and our Asset and Technology Solution (ATS) business took along a wide range of construction technology including Spot the Dog, a drone flying experience, a vehicle training simulator and an excavator to Nuneaton’s facility to showcase to their employees how modern methods of construction will create more suitable roles for those with disabilities.  

During the day, members from our procurement, sustainability, ATS and The Operator Skill hub teams were able to gather feedback on the perceived barriers to working in the construction industry as someone with a disability and to learn from Nuneaton Signs’ team about how we could become a more inclusive employer.