Kier, a leading UK infrastructure services, construction and property group, has welcomed the first participants on to its new programme for care-experienced young people in Norfolk, which is designed to support them in taking their next step into work, training or further education.
The six week programme, delivered by Kier in partnership with Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Virtual School and Your Own Place, creates opportunities for care-experienced young people aged 16-25, preparing them to progress into employment, training or further study.
A launch event for the programme took place in Wymondham on 14 April and was hosted by broadcaster and former sprint and hurdling track and field athlete, Kriss Akabusi MBE.
On the day, Kriss, who is a prominent advocate for young people with experience of care, delivered a motivational workshop to the first group of eight young people.
The Building Brighter Futures programme forms part of Kier’s commitment to long‑term social value, skills development and investment in the local community through its Norfolk highways contract.
Over the course of the contract, which will run for up to 14 years, a minimum of one cohort will be delivered annually, supporting up to 12 young people per group.
Young people from care backgrounds often face additional barriers in accessing these opportunities and it aims to equip them with the skills and confidence they need.
The programme supports Kier’s commitment to the Government’s Care Leaver Covenant and aligns with The Youth Guarantee, forming part of the company’s wider approach to supporting care‑experienced young people, including those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), into work, training or further education.
Participants will benefit from:
Real workplace experience
One-to-one mentoring
Priority access to apprenticeships
Life skills training including money management and confidence building
Practical employability workshops
Donna Howard, head of social impact and inclusion for Kier Infrastructure said:
I’m absolutely delighted to be launching the care experience programme in Norfolk. A huge amount of planning and preparation has gone into getting this programme to this point, working closely with partners including Norfolk Virtual School and Your Own Place to ensure it is truly designed around the needs of care-experienced young people. This programme is about providing meaningful skills, real experience and genuine opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the young people succeed and building on this programme together over the next 14 years.
Kriss Akabusi MBE said:
I've had a fantastic day engaging with young people from looked-after backgrounds and helping them recognise how they can be the very best version of themselves.I want to wish them good luck over the next six weeks as they get on board with the programme and thank Kier for delivering in this area.
Grahame Bygrave, director of highways, transport & waste at Norfolk County Council said:
It’s fantastic to see the Building Brighter Futures programme being launched in Norfolk. Our partnership with Kier is going to make a real difference to young people across Norfolk with this initiative, helping them take their next steps in life. Kier is not just helping maintain physical roads but also opening up new paths for our young people to take in life. It’s great to see this investment in our communities from our new partner.
Kier recently began delivery of its £700m Norfolk highways contract, covering the maintenance and improvement of 9,836km of the county’s highway network.