Enhancing the life skills and chances of young people through
innovative and effective education and employability workshops
serious about YoutH
SAY is a youth-focused social enterprise based in London. We specialise in developing innovative, interactive and effective educational workshops and employability training
Working with other youth organisations, educational institutions and employers, we design and deliver educational programmes that aid the progression of young people. Our workshops can be delivered as single sessions or extended programmes. We also help young people into different types of work and apprenticeships through our independent 1-2-1 advice.
We have a particular focus of engaging with young people from NEET (not in education, employment or training) and BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) backgrounds. Our guidance and support enhances the chances for young people and inspires them to live fulfilling lives while successfully growing in the real world.
With our network and skills, we help organisations run engaging outreach activities. Our work includes addressing the skills shortage in the Engineering and Construction sectors by helping young people enter the industry through our 'Construkt' project.
We have been awarded a bronze Level London Youth Quality Mark, a quality assurance scheme, a programme accredited by City and Guilds.
the 'construkt' Project
SAY's 'Construkt' Project offers young people an exciting pathway into the engineering and construction industry. We work with a range of industry leading organisations to take participants through the life cycle of an engineering project, while exposing them to the many different career pathways available in the sector.
The programme is designed for young people aged 16 - 25, particularly from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds, and is aimed at both NEETs (not in education, employment, or training) and students from schools and colleges across London.
Those that wish to work on-site can undergo the Health and Safety Level 1 and CSCS card training, with the intention of obtaining their own CSCS Card. We also organise work experience, as well as support participants in securing apprenticeships, employment, work experience or other positive outcomes after the programme has finished.
We have a particular focus of engaging young people from BAME (black, asian and minority ethnic) backgrounds and women, due to their underrepresentation in the industry. Over 80% of our candidates have been BAME and 25% female, and we have helped over 75% of participants into a positive outcome (apprenticeship, job, further education/training or CSCS card)!
Ready to make a lasting impact in the lives of aspiring young professionals?
Join us at 'Construkt', where your expertise and support can ignite the dreams of the next generation! By partnering with us, your organisation can gain assistance to meet section 106/social value targets, as well as play a pivotal role in shaping the future workforce by addressing the massive skills shortage in the construction sector. Whether through directly sponsoring a programme; offering employment opportunities and work experience; or providing volunteers to support a programme, your contribution will have a profound impact.
the construkt_in Site
diversity & InclusioN initiative
Revolutionising the Built Environment
Serious About Youth (SAY) are excited to unveil our pioneering partnership with London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) and TfL/Transport for London Properties (TTLP). This collaboration is set to bring transformative change to the construction industry through our comprehensive 'Construkt_in Site Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Initiative'.
Our Mission is Clear...
Challenge and change the status quo in relation to site diversity and working culture in the built environment sector. Improving diversity and site working culture has many operational benefits for contractors and developers, such as improving staff wellbeing/mental health, productivity and retention; addressing the sector's skills shortage by attracting and retaining young people and talent from underrepresented groups; and helping to meet contractual section 106/social value targets. To achieve this, we have developed the following resources to improve the working culture on sites by enhancing the D&I knowledge and commitment of site staff:
1. D&I induction video for all new site staff
2. Six Toolbox Talks aimed at site operatives
4. D&I training for site Managers/Supervisors
5. D&I best practice training for HR Managers from site subcontractors
6. Support to establish a D&I Ambassador network
Our D&I Toolbox Talks: Paving the Way for Inclusion
Introducing our six-part series of D&I Toolbox Talks aimed at site operatives, each designed to address essential aspects of diversity and inclusion in an engaging and relatable way:
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Introduction & Benefits of Diversity
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Protected Characteristics
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Types of Discrimination
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Intervention
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Age, Disability, Race, and Religion
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Sexuality, Gender, and Gender Reassignment
These sessions are not merely informative, they are catalysts for thought and action, designed to be interactive and practical. They delve into effective strategies for fostering a respectful and inclusive culture on-site.
Join Us in Leading the Construction Industry Towards Greater Equality and Diversity
As we navigate this crucial journey towards improving diversity and inclusion in the built environment, we recognise the importance of collaboration. SAY invites construction companies across London to participate in this transformative initiative. By implementing the 'Construkt_in Site Diversity & Inclusion Initiative' you'll be doing more than just meeting regulatory section 106/social value targets and working towards addressing the sector's skills shortage, you'll also be contributing meaningfully to a more inclusive and socially responsible construction industry.
Together, we can ensure that diversity is not just welcomed, but celebrated!
Employability Training
We design and deliver impactful accredited and non-accredited employability training using a variety of youth-focused methods and resources such as interactive group activities, poetry, multimedia, inspirational speakers and videos. We help young people to understand employers' needs by innovatively covering topics such as CV's, interviews, application forms, the importance of attitude, and valuable soft skills needed to successfully navigate the workplace.
Our programmes have a candidate satisfaction and retention rate of over 90%, and we have a strong track record of effectively helping hundreds of young people into jobs and apprenticeships through our training and ongoing 1-2-1 support. We have worked with a wide variety of employers and partner organisations such as the including Mayor's Fund for London, and have designed and delivered accredited training for bodies such as NCFE, EDI and BTEC Workskills.
We help young people across London get into jobs, apprenticeships, work experience and other positive outcomes in a range of industries. We can connect you with employers and organisations to help you find work suited to your skills and interests.
We we understand the power of collaboration! We work with many companies and organisations in several different ways to help young people to find, get and keep jobs. If you're interested in working with us, we'd love to hear from you!
Educational Workshops
We offer a range of interactive life skill workshops for young people!
Our workshops help students develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable them to be successful in education and beyond. We deliver single sessions or extended programmes in primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and other youth organisations.
We use youth-focused resources and methods such as interactive group activities, poetry, multimedia, videos and relevant role models & guests in a fun and innovative way for schools to effectively address the Ofsted Criteria of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC), the Gatsby careers benchmarks, and British Values.
Donate
Support our 'Construkt' Programme!
For the past 10 years, we’ve proudly collaborated with leading construction companies across London to offer life-changing opportunities to young people. Through work experience placements, apprenticeships, and employment, our Construkt programme has helped hundreds of participants gain invaluable experience and develop the skills needed to build successful careers in the construction industry.
These placements don’t just benefit our participants—they also support the construction sector in meeting social value targets, while reinforcing commitments to community engagement and corporate social responsibility. Our programme equips young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, with hands-on experience that positions them for future success. From learning key construction principles to developing their confidence in a professional environment, these experiences have a long-lasting impact.
Looking to the future, we aim to grow the Construkt programme even further. We’re launching a crowdfunding campaign to help us reach more young people and continue this important work. Your donation will directly fund our Construkt programme, training, and essential resources that allow us to empower the next generation of construction professionals.
By contributing, you’re not only changing lives but also playing a part in building a more inclusive and diverse construction industry. Supporting this initiative also provides an opportunity to further your company’s CSR efforts and commitment to community development.
Join us in making a difference — your support is vital. Please donate today through our crowdfunding campaign and help us to continue building futures