Skills initiative delivers ‘£10m worth of social value’

New figures published for the Forging Futures Campus at the £400m Kirkstall Forge development, in Leeds, say the project has delivered more than £10m worth of social value.

Led by developer CEG, the wider Kirkstall Forge scheme will deliver 400,000 sq ft of commercial and community space, more than 1,000 new homes along with retail, leisure and other facilities.

As part of the development, CEG established the Forging Futures Campus in 2017.

It provides new skills and an employment initiative programme aimed at helping young people from all backgrounds across Yorkshire to develop the abilities needed to progress a career.

The latest research into the the Forging Futures Campus has revealed the following was achieved in the first two years:

• More than £10m in social value delivered. This figure was calculated by reviewing the social, economic and environmental outcomes created for local communities and the wider region. It includes the campus’ ability to help those out of work and education to find pathways into new apprenticeships and training.
• Over 450 participants have benefited from the curriculum delivery, site visits, workplace engagement, CV workshops and mock interviews in partnership with a number of Leeds schools, colleges and universities.
• More than 116 individuals have graduated from the training initiative for 16 to 24-year-olds, with over 70% having a positive outcome, including 45 new jobs and 54 going on to further training, education and apprenticeships.
• CEG’s partnership with Skill Mill at Kirkstall Forge facilitated the start of this programme in Leeds, offering site experience, support and funding to young ex-offenders helping them gain training and on-site experience. Since 2016, 32 have graduated, delivering an estimated saving of £2.25m to the public purse from reduced repeat offending, with 50% going into training, apprenticeships and jobs.

Lucinda Yeadon, community liaison manager at CEG, said: “We look forward to helping many more local people as our Kirkstall Forge and Temple projects continue.

“We’re passionate about providing long-term benefits to communities, so for us it was really important that we started delivering programmes aimed at those furthest from the job market.

“One of our key drivers, aside from the buildings themselves and the regeneration of physical spaces, is to firmly embed ourselves within the community that we’ve choose to develop within.

“We’re incredibly proud of those that have already taken part and are starting to see the positive impact.”

Project management company, Pierre Angulaire, manages the Forging Futures Campus on behalf of CEG.

Howard Metcalf at Pierre Angulaire said: “The impact we’re seeing already in terms of social value as a result of the programmes that are available for young people at Kirkstall Forge is clearly impressive.

“We’re not just generating a financial benefit, but creating life changing, long-term opportunities for young people in our region.”

CEG also partners with other property and professional services companies, including Turner & Townsend, WYG, Arup, Cartwright Pickard, Faithful and Gould, and Hoare Lea to offer a Level 3 NVQ/Diploma apprenticeship scheme.

Twelve young people have the chance to rotate training placements with the companies and undertake college learning at Leeds College of Building which is being funded by CEG and participating consultants.

Pastoral support and course enrichment is provided by EN:Able Futures.