Opening Doors: LPL Construction Takes Part in Careers Day at Helen Romanes School

July is National Work Experience Month a UK-wide initiative bringing together employers, schools and colleges to improve the quality and frequency of meaningful work experience for young people. The initiative exists because the evidence is clear: when students gain access to real workplace experience, they are better prepared for the transition from education into employment, and better equipped to make informed decisions about their futures.

At LPL Construction Services, we are proud to be doing our part.

A Conversation That Matters

This month we were delighted to take part in the careers day at Helen Romanes School in Great Dunmow, just down the road from our Elsenham headquarters. It was a privilege to spend time with the pupils and staff, and the volume of questions from students was encouraging proof that these days are a genuine necessity for the next generation of construction professionals.

Construction has a reputation problem with young people. Too many still picture only hard hats and heavy lifting, when the reality is a sector crying out for quantity surveyors, project planners, compliance specialists, sustainability leads and commercial teams. The talent gap is real, and filling it starts with a simple conversation.

That is exactly what days like this provide. Sitting down with students, answering honest questions and showing them the full range of careers behind a live construction project is one of the most useful things we can do as a local employer. We came away just as motivated as we hope the students did.

Why Work Experience Month Matters for Construction

National Work Experience Month is a UK-wide initiative bringing together leading organisations to improve the quality and frequency of meaningful work experience for learners. It exists in direct response to a growing challenge: in recent years, opportunities for students to gain valuable workplace experience have diminished, with fewer large employers offering placements and ongoing changes to work experience legislation and education funding.

For the construction industry, this matters enormously. The skills shortage facing our sector is well documented, and it will not be resolved without a sustained, collective effort to engage young people early, show them the breadth of opportunity available, and provide genuine pathways in.

Evidence consistently shows that when students gain access to meaningful work experience, they develop a better understanding of what the world of work looks and feels like, and are far better prepared for the transition from education into employment. As a local employer with deep roots in the region, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to be part of that.

Building Lasting Relationships

Looking ahead, we want to build on days like this and develop lasting relationships with more schools and colleges across the area. We are actively looking to open genuine routes into the industry through T Level industry placements and office-based apprenticeships in disciplines including business administration, commercial and project support.

A big thank you to Harry Murray, Alex Lenihan and Kirsty Muir for making the day so engaging for students and staff alike, and to Helen Romanes School for the warm welcome extended to our team.

Thank you also to every student who stopped to chat. Your curiosity and enthusiasm is exactly what this industry needs.

Get in Touch

If you are a local school or college keen to explore how we can work together, we would love to hear from you. Whether that is a careers day, a T Level placement or an apprenticeship pathway, we are committed to playing an active role in shaping the next generation of construction professionals.

The next generation of this industry is sitting in a classroom right now. Our job is to show them the door.

This careers day is part of a broader commitment to supporting young people into the industry. Earlier this month we hosted a work experience day at Stansted Airport, and our apprenticeship programme continues to offer structured, long-term routes into the business. We are also proud holders of the ERS Bronze Award, recognising our commitment to supporting the armed forces community into civilian employment. Taken together, these reflect a business that takes its responsibilities as a local employer seriously.

Find out more about National Work Experience Month at wexmonth.co.uk