Building Brighter Futures is helping care-experienced young people in Norfolk build the skills, confidence and experience they need to take their next step towards employment, training or further education.
Launched in April 2026, the six-week programme is delivered by Kier in partnership with Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Virtual School and Your Own Place. Young people aged 16 to 25 can gain real workplace experience alongside mentoring, employability support and practical life skills.
Key takeaways
Eight young people joined the first Building Brighter Futures cohort in Norfolk.
The six-week programme supports care-experienced young people aged 16 to 25.
Participants receive workplace experience, one-to-one mentoring, employability support and life-skills training.
Up to 12 young people can take part in each cohort, with at least one cohort planned each year.
The programme is delivered through Kier's Norfolk highways contract in partnership with Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Virtual School and Your Own Place.
Helping young people build skills, confidence and experience
Care-experienced young people can face additional barriers when moving into employment, education or training.
Building Brighter Futures has been designed to provide practical, individual support to help overcome some of those barriers.
The first cohort launched in Wymondham in April 2026, with eight young people joining the programme. Kriss Akabusi MBE helped kick-start the six weeks with a motivational workshop.
Over the course of the programme, participants have access to:
real workplace experience
one-to-one mentoring
employability workshops
life-skills training, including money management
confidence-building support
priority access to apprenticeship opportunities.
The aim is simple: to give young people practical experience and support that can help them explore their options and take their next step with greater confidence.
Creating opportunities through our work in Norfolk
Building Brighter Futures is being delivered through Kier's Norfolk highways contract, showing how long-term infrastructure investment can create opportunities that go beyond the work itself.
The programme also supports Kier's wider commitment to social value and local skills development, as well as the Government's Care Leaver Covenant and Youth Guarantee.
Kier, Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Virtual School and Your Own Place will continue to develop the programme around the needs of care-experienced young people, capturing participant feedback, outcomes and learning to shape future cohorts.
The initiative has also been shortlisted for the Social Value Awards following a joint submission from Kier and Norfolk.
What our partners say:
Donna Howard, Head of Social Impact and Inclusion for Kier InfrastructureThe programme is focused on providing young people with meaningful skills, real experience and genuine opportunities for their future.
Grahame Bygrave, Director of Highways, Transport and Waste at Norfolk County CouncilThe initiative will help young people across Norfolk take their next steps in life.
Building Brighter Futures: your questions answered
The programme supports care-experienced young people aged 16 to 25 in Norfolk, including young people who may not currently be in education, employment or training.
Participants can access workplace experience, one-to-one mentoring, employability workshops, life-skills and confidence-building support, as well as priority access to apprenticeship opportunities.
Building Brighter Futures is delivered by Kier in partnership with Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Virtual School and Your Own Place through the Norfolk highways contract.
Up to 12 young people can take part in each cohort. Eight joined the first cohort, with at least one cohort planned each year.