Year 10 students from Queen Katherine School in Kendal took part in an immersive work experience visit with us at Genesis Homes, a community-focused homebuilder. Held at the Castles & Coasts development, Crookfield in Staveley, where we are the contracted builder, the session was thoughtfully designed by our team to broaden aspirations and showcase the diverse career opportunities within the construction sector.
The visit was coordinated in partnership with Enterprising Cumbria, with a shared commitment to ensuring that young people from all backgrounds are able to access meaningful work experience that might not otherwise be available to them. The impact on students who had previously been disengaged from education was phenomenal, with 100% attendance and early arrival recorded during the work experience week.
During the session, the 14–15 year old students were given a guided tour led by our Construction Director, Martin Caldwell, and our Contracts Manager, Jason Webster. The tour offered real-world insights into the full build process, from foundations to completion and highlighted the importance of practical maths skills in everyday construction work. Students also took part in a hands on bricklaying workshop and had the opportunity to get up close to a range of construction machinery, learning how each element contributes to delivering strong, high-quality homes.
Feedback from students was extremely positive, with many noting how eye-opening and engaging the experience had been. One student said, “It’s changed how I feel about my future options. I want to learn more about outdoor work experience and really enjoyed the bricklaying.” Others added, “My thinking changed this week because I can now see the opportunities available,” and “It made me feel more encouraged to go into a job or workplace in the construction or infrastructure industry.”
Lauren Jackson, Employer Engagement Project Lead at Enterprising Cumbria, praised the experience, saying:
“We were delighted to connect students from Queen Katherine School in Kendal with Genesis Homes which was part of a bespoke work experience programme. The level of support and insight provided was exceptional, offering students a truly meaningful experience that broadened their understanding of the construction sector and inspired many to explore future opportunities in the industry. The students represented their school brilliantly, demonstrating enthusiasm, asking thoughtful questions, and providing valuable feedback. We look forward to continuing this partnership to deliver outstanding workplace experience opportunities in the future.”
Andrew Wilkinson, Land and Acquisition Manager at Castles & Coasts Housing Association, added:
“Our contractors, Genesis Homes, went above and beyond to welcome Queen Katherine School students to our Crookfield site in Staveley. It’s fantastic to hear how engaged the pupils were, and I’m delighted that the visit has inspired their interest in the construction sector and the importance of community-focused housing projects.”
Our Construction Director, Martin Caldwell, commented:
“It was a pleasure to welcome the students to Crookfield, a development we’re proud to be delivering for Castles & Coasts that offers affordable homes for local people. Supporting young people and showing them the breadth of opportunities in construction is hugely important to us. They asked fantastic questions throughout, and we hope the experience has helped spark new interests and ambitions.”
This initiative aligns closely with our ongoing commitment to community engagement, and we look forward to continuing our work with local schools and partners to deliver further educational and skills-based initiatives that make a real difference to communities.
