Construction Ready in 10 Days: Our Course with The King’s Trust
Getting set up for a career in construction.
10 days & a lot of new skills! At the end of July, our Construction Ready cohort celebrated the completion of their course at Greenlight.
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With support from:
In July 2026, a group of applicants walked through the doors of Greenlight Safety & Training in Plymouth with an interest in construction and plenty of questions about what a career in the industry could look like.
Ten days later, the cohort left with new skills, recognised qualifications, CSCS cards, greater confidence & a much clearer idea of where construction could take them.
Our 10-Day Construction Ready Course was designed to give learners a practical introduction to the industry, combining hands-on experience with essential site training and the opportunity to meet employers face-to-face. This latest programme was delivered for applicants supported by The King’s Trust, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Willmott Dixon and many local employers.
Getting Started
The programme began with a taster day at our Plymouth centre, giving the learners their first opportunity to get to know Greenlight, meet the team & get a feel for what the next 10 days would involve. Willmott Dixon provided multiple talks to give learners an idea of what a career in construction would look like.
For some, construction was already an area they were interested in. For others, the course was an opportunity to explore an industry they hadn't previously considered.
More than just a qualification
Across the 10 days, learners worked towards their CSCS cards while gaining a broad introduction to construction and the essential skills needed to work safely on site.
The programme included:
Health & Safety
UKATA Asbestos Awareness
Working at Height
Harness Awareness
Manual Handling
Level 1 Award in Construction
CSCS Card
Alongside the classroom-based training, learners had the chance to experience a range of different construction trades at Greenlight.
That practical element was an important part of the programme. Rather than simply learning about construction, learners could get hands-on, try different activities & begin to understand which areas of the industry might suit them.
And, of course, no Greenlight bootcamp would be complete without earning the highly coveted Greenlight Level 1 Wheelbarrow Licence!
Building confidence & meeting employers
One of the biggest outcomes of the programme wasn't something that could be measured by a certificate.
They started as a group of individuals who didn't necessarily know each other or what to expect. By the end, they had built friendships, supported one another, challenged themselves & become a team.
The final days also allowed learners to meet employers, hear directly about life in the construction industry & take part in interviews for live opportunities.
That face-to-face contact can make a huge difference. Meeting employers in a familiar training environment gives learners the chance to ask questions, understand what businesses are looking for & start making those all-important connections between training and employment.
Bringing industry into the classroom
The success of programmes like this relies on collaboration.
A huge thank you goes to The King’s Trust for supporting the learners throughout the programme, alongside the DWP and our industry partners.
We're also grateful to Building Plymouth, Gilpin Demolition Group, JEM Scaffolding, Ian Williams & Willmott Dixon for taking the time to visit Greenlight, speak with the learners, share their experiences & support the interview process.
Giving young people direct access to employers is a valuable part of helping them understand the opportunities available to them & what it takes to start a career in construction.
We're particularly proud that Willmott Dixon could be part of the programme, with Adam Moxey sharing his own experience as a King's Trust success story and demonstrating where these opportunities can lead.
Looking to what's next
The celebration event at Greenlight was a fitting way to bring the programme to a close. Hearing directly from the learners about how their confidence had grown, the skills they had discovered & the opportunities they were now considering was a brilliant reminder of why programmes like this matter.
Thank you to local councillors Jemima Laing & Tess Blight for being part of the celebration meet as well as representation from Willmott Dixon, the DWP and local employers.
Construction has a huge range of career paths available, but taking that first step can sometimes be the hardest part.
See stories two of our applicants here in our After-Video summary.
Our 10-Day Construction Ready Course is designed to make that step more accessible - giving people the chance to experience construction for themselves, gain practical skills & recognised qualifications, and meet the employers who could help them take the next step.
We're incredibly proud of what this group achieved over 10 days & we can't wait to see where they go next.
Good luck to all learners - you've made a brilliant start, we look forward to celebrating more and more outcomes with you.
