Launch Group Employment Initiative

Written by Ian Walker, Senior Project Manager – Employment & Skills

In the heart of Southwark, amidst the vibrant tapestry of London’s urban landscape, an ambitious vision is taking shape—one that not only transforms physical spaces but also uplifts the lives of local residents. Integral to the success of the Canada Water Masterplan is the active involvement of Southwark residents, ensuring that economic opportunities generated by the project directly benefit the local community. This is where Canada Water Connect comes into play, offering a gateway for individuals to actively participate in and benefit from the transformation of their neighbourhood.

In partnership with the Launch Group and funded by British Land, Canada Water Connect helped 14 Southwark residents with a 2 week employment support programme aimed at providing an intriguing and insightful overview of the construction industry and how to navigate the varied and exciting opportunities the Masterplan has to offer.

Through workshops such as:

Conflict Management
Mental Resilience
Managing Finance
What Self Employment Looks Like
Equality & Diversity
Interview & CV support

Candidates were given a prime opportunity to visit both our A1 site overseen by Wates and our A2 site overseen by Mace, to speak directly with a multitude of sub-contractors who gave presentations on what exactly they are each involved with on the Masterplan, what a career looks like from their perspective, and how you can progress in specific trades. The aim was to give local residents a chance to engage and ask questions so they have a better understanding of what the construction industry is, tackling questions on topics such as self-employment and how the contractors themselves picked their respective careers. This was capped off with candidates being invited to apply for live job vacancies in various trade sectors.

“Coming on this course has really helped my confidence and better understand construction. I feel like I’ve learned a lot and the support both David and Ian gave has made me happy I joined. I really want to get into Drylining and I’m so happy I’m getting an interview.”

– Ibrahim, candidate

“I’m sad this has come to an end. I’ve met so many good people and I know I have a great chance of getting my bricklaying apprenticeship now. I’d recommend this to anyone as we learned a lot of things and for once, there were jobs we could apply for.”

– Ryan, candidate

“The whole class really enjoyed the programme and it was so cool getting to visit both new buildings. I really want to be a part of this project and let people see the work I’ve done. There should be more things like this available as it helps people and gets them work.”

– Kehinde, candidate

“I was surprised by this course and pleased I joined. It was nice to meet new people and I had my CV given to one of the contractors only my second day which I really wasn’t expecting. I’m now looking forward to speaking with them on an electrical mate vacancy.”

– Macey, candidate

The synergy between the Launch Group and the Canada Water Masterplan extends beyond mere infrastructure development; it represents a holistic approach to community revitalisation and economic empowerment. As construction projects under the masterplan unfold, Southwark residents trained via these employment initiatives play an active role in shaping the future of their neighbourhood, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.

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