Get into Construction Programme

We had an amazing start to our Construction Employability Programme 'Get Into Construction' which continued to be successful with the following CV and Interview Workshops at Waltham Forest College the week before.

We were able to support 21 individuals looking to get into the construction industry. The initiative will continue to run over the next 8 weeks, with help and advice being delivered around CV and interview skills, work experience placements on sites, the ability to gain CSCS cards and guaranteed interviews with potential employers at the end of the programme.

It was a fantastic time working from Waltham Forest College delivering mock interviews and CV skills as part of our Get Into Construction course, run in partnership with Vistry and Taylor Wimpey plc. This program is all about equipping participants with the skills, confidence, and connections they need to step into the industry.

Each of the partners delivered invaluable support and expertise to the students. Their insights helped make these sessions incredibly impactful, preparing our participants for upcoming work experience and job placements that will give them real-world exposure to the sector.

This impactful programme is delivered in partnership with Aston Group, Countryside/Vistry, Taylor Wimpey plc and SIMIAN LASC, and we’re proud to support it.

Six students from Waltham Forest College were chosen for the initial placements after impressing our staff at the launch and employability workshops in the first 3 stages of the programme.

Orren and Abdullah are electrical students and were placed with our two Commercial Electrical supervisors for the duration of the 2 weeks. Both received glowing recommendations from the electrical team and have been offered a 4-week extended placement in the summer, with the hope that they will continue to impress and earn themselves an apprenticeship.

"I have to say that I was extremely grateful for being chosen to partake in work experience with Aston Group and it was definitely the best 2 weeks I've had for a while.

I met the majority of the electrical team and they were all a delight to work with and were just as easy to get along with as well.

Abdullah and I had a great variety of different tasks to do and lessons by Charan where he explained certain tasks and the reason we are doing it as well as how it works.

Travel was not an issue as well and honestly I would love to be an apprentice with Aston Group and eventually be a part of the team." Orren, Electrical student

The next phase of the 'Get Into Construction' employability programme, Countryside’s Social Value Manager, Caroline Richardson, invited Rachel Statter, our CSR Manager, and the students from local colleges taking part to a site visit at Hepworth Place in Walthamstow, where much-needed affordable housing is being built.

The site visit, introduced for the first time with this cohort, offered valuable insights into how a development like Hepworth Place is brought to life – from groundwork to completion. It’s a great opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of the industry and see construction in action.

Following Aston Group’s recent hosting of five students for two weeks of work experience across our Gas, Domestic and Commercial Electrical departments, this visit was a powerful reminder of the value of our partnership with developers Countryside Properties and Taylor Wimpey, and ourselves as a Building Services and Facilities Maintenance company.

The aspiring electricians and plumbers are able to gain first-hand insight into both how developments are built from the ground up and how the vital systems inside them are installed, maintained, and repaired once occupied. It’s rare for students to see both sides of the process — and it gives them a unique perspective as they consider which career path they’d like to pursue.

To find out more about the 'Get into Construction' Programme or to enquire about apprenticeships at Aston Group, please email r.statter@astongroup.co.uk. You can also read more about our previous and current apprentices.