BARRATT HOMES INSPIRING NEXT GENERATION THROUGH ENTERPRISE PROJECT

Teenagers from a Sunderland school have been given a unique insight into construction and commerce thanks to Barratt Homes and Sunderland AFC charity Foundation of Light. 15 Year 9 girls from Thornhill Academy took part in the six week Business and Enterprise project supported by Barratt Homes and the Foundation, concluding in a Dragon’s Den-style presentation this week with senior staff from both organisations. The youngsters were given the challenge to ‘become estate agents and sell a house’ to judges, considering real-life factors like identifying target audiences, their lifestyles and what location they’d like to live in. Their pitch to judges also included how they planned to sell the house and any support they would need to help them move. With guidance from specialist teaching staff, the girls were encouraged to be creative, learn to adapt to new challenges and overcome obstacles. Through the involvement of Barratt Homes the girls also gained an insight into the wide range of careers and opportunities within construction for when they leave school.

Through our partnership with Foundation of Light we hope to engage young people in construction and inspire the future leaders of our industry.

Carl Sobolewski, Managing Director of Barratt Homes North East

Carl continued: "The presentations were fantastic and very encouraging for our team. I was especially impressed by the creativity and thought that went into each and I would like to congratulate all who took part.” Clare Wilson, Head of Partnerships and Donor Care added: "We’re delighted that Barratt Homes have taken a very active approach to their partnership and their involvement in the project has made a big impact on the young people taking part.” Earlier this year Barratt Homes opened a Construction Academy in the Beacon of Light’s World of Work Zone to help deliver skill needed within the construction industry. The project supported in meeting schools GATBSY Benchmarks: Encounters with Employers and Employees (GATSBY Benchmarks 6); Experiences of Workplaces (GATSBY Benchmarks 7).