Property and construction skills for students

A shortfall of people joining the property and construction sectors means they, like the transport sector, face a skills challenge.

About the Educational Engagement Programme

Our Educational Engagement Programme is designed to help encourage the next generation to choose a career in the built environment industry.

Along with our development partners (Barratt London, Delancey, Grainger plc, and Notting Hill Genesis), we want to support young people to pursue professional and technical careers in our sector.

This includes helping them access opportunities that will come up as we build thousands of homes across London.

Who can be part of this programme

Initially aimed at students from 11 to 18 years old, schools and colleges can use the resources we're creating, enabling us to reach youngsters across the capital.

From a development manager and surveyor to architect and engagement officer, there are a whole host of careers within the built environment. It's not just hard hats and high vis!

Click on the video to find out more.

Partnering with schools

We're working with three schools as an initial pilot project, along with the organisation Class of Your Own.

The schools Fulham Cross Academy in west London, Le Retraite Roman Catholic Girls School in south London, Heathcote School and Science College in north London will benefit from a long-term relationship with ongoing and targeted engagement. We will:

  • Run work experience programmes together
  • Provide videos for use in lessons and clubs
  • Take students on site tours
  • Help teachers develop projects and lesson plans and deliver teacher training

Videos from TfL employees and our partners

We've produced videos where people within TfL and our partner organisations explain what their career has involved so far and the best ways to get into the sector.

All the videos are on our Built Environment Schools Outreach Programme YouTube playlist. Here's a sample:

Other opportunities for the future

We're very keen to work with schools in a variety of ways and can create bespoke engagement packages. We'll also be developing more resources that can be used by schools across London.

In the future, we're looking to develop a mentoring programme. This will play a vital role in supporting young people to identify and access opportunities that they may not have known existed. It'll also help them to navigate the often-complex pathway to professional and technical roles in the sector. 

We're planning a series of annual events in key London boroughs where TfL property developments are on site or planned. Events will include careers, apprenticeships and employability support, such as CV workshops and mock interviews to help young people apply for upcoming opportunities within the built environment sector.

Contact us

If you work in a school and would like to know more about the programme, email us at constructionskills@tfl.gov.uk