We worked with Lendlease to be a part of their scheme providing young people with internship opportunities where they can gain experience and earn the London Living Wage. To pilot this scheme, five of our learners were given the opportunity to take part in summer placements at leading companies Robert Bird Group, Gort Scott, Churchman Thornhill Finch and Equals Consulting. 

With the mission ‘to shape cities, create connected communities and deliver workplaces of the future, right around the world’, Lendlease is a globally integrated real estate group with decades of experience to successfully combine development, design, placemaking, construction and investments.  

In line with wider socioeconomic aspirations at Silvertown to promote STEM careers and encouraging ‘good work’ opportunities paid at a Living wage, Lendlease worked with LDE to organise paid placements for five year 12 learners. Learners were set a research/design challenge to work on and present back at the end of the week. 

This amazing week was concluded at the Lendlease Silvertown site where our learners gave engaging presentations reflecting on their time at each company.   

Gort Scott: 
Nicolos and Ben shared their involvement in the mansion house retrofitting project. Their task was to design a large, multipurpose unit within a small, central space, catering to a small family with one child. Our learners discussed how their designs achieved a playful yet mature design that was environmentally conscious and explored unique materials. They also shared skills they used throughout the week including site measurement, researching precedents, initial sketching, digital drawings, 3D modelling, and presentation drawings. 

Robert Bird Group: 
Alfonzo discussed the Silvertown project, a multi-phase urban regeneration in the Royal Docks area. During the week, Alfonzo was tasked to create a sketch illustrating the interaction between buildings and existing underground tunnels. As he spoke through his intricate workings out, Alfonzo explored beam design, a process for calculating structural support needs and ensuring columns could handle the loads they'd bear. 

Churchman Thornhill Finch: 
Jayla spent a week working in Landscape Architecture where she focused on shaping neighbourhoods in Silvertown Quays. Jayla discussed how she approached the design concept which was to create an innovative play space centred around the needs of teenage girls- ensuring safety and security. Jayla discussed and summarised the extensive research and documents she read, such as The London Plan and Supplementary Planning Guidance, in order to inform her designs and showcased and explained amazing sketches to the group.  

Equals Consulting: 
Imad, delving into Quantity surveying and project management, gained valuable finance work experience and learned about measuring and costing. He showcased various construction projects his company had been involved in and delved into the phases of RIBA building (0-7) and Quantity Surveying, providing insights his week as a Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor. 

When reflecting on our learners presentations, Edward Project Director at Silvertown Lendlease shared, ‘I was very impressed by the quality of the presentations you gave and the passion and knowledge you shared! The ability to confidently present to a group of senior strangers on a formal subject is a great skill to develop this early in your careers. It remains part of my job to this day! I hope that the week proved informative to you, and that it will help shape your career journey – either to confirm your chosen career path or clarify that it isn’t. Being able to make an informed decision based on real experience is invaluable.’ 
 
Our learners enjoyed such a valuable week of internship, gaining insight into industries they are passionate about. Not only did they gain invaluable insight, but they were also paid for their time and had the opportunity to truly contribute to the company they worked for. Thanks to Zen, Socio-Economic Development Manager, who was one of the coordinators of the project and has been a supporter of the college. Thanks also to Zaid, Team Admin Assistant and one of our valued alumnus, who helped facilitate this internship and worked with our learners throughout the week. It is amazing to see a former learner, who benefitted from employer led learning, now contributing to that same provision. 

‘Thank you so much to Lendlease for providing our learners with this opportunity. This is such an important time in their education, and they are about to make all those big choices between university, apprenticeship and employment. Having this week of support and input from such leading professionals is truly priceless!’ Janice, Head of Careers.