The construction industry can seem like a mystery to many people, with building sites often hidden behind hoardings, and the wide range of jobs available not well-known. However, a series of special behind-the-scenes tours held at Berkeley's The Green Quarter in West London this month gave 45 attendees a unique opportunity to see what it's really like to work in the property and construction industry.
Organised as part of Build UK’s Open Doors Week, which ran from 13-18 March 2023, these tours provided a window into life working in placemaking and regeneration. Attendees included students from local Villiers and Featherstone secondary schools, who were eager to learn about the range of careers available in the industry.
Over three days, the attendees were shown around The Green Quarter by apprentices and recent graduates who work at the site. These young professionals shared their experiences and provided insight into the variety of roles available in homebuilding.
The tours began with an interactive presentation about The Green Quarter's past, present, and future in the on-site Sales & Marketing Suite. Attendees were then taken to Central Gardens, a new park and play space, which is being developed in partnership with biodiversity experts London Wildlife Trust. Finally, participants were treated to a panoramic rooftop view of the site, where The Green Quarter team answered their questions about life working on a development.
One attendee, a local resident, remarked, "As a local, I have never been around the development previously, and it was a great opportunity, not just to see the improvements delivered so far, but also to hear the backstory of the journey today and the future plans for the site."
This year, 12 Berkeley Group developments took part in Open Doors Week, showcasing the sites behind the hoardings and the potential employment paths on offer. Over 300 people currently work across The Green Quarter, including at the Sales & Marketing Suite and on-site, at levels ranging from apprentices all the way up to the Board. As part of Berkeley's commitment to local employment, all job opportunities are listed on the Ealing Council website.
Jags Sanghera, Head of Community Engagement at St George, said, "Creating places where people can be happy and healthy is Berkeley’s purpose, and we were delighted to pull back the curtain to showcase this at The Green Quarter today. Homebuilding is a career that everyone can be involved in, whether you're in the construction or sales teams, and it was really inspiring to see just how enthusiastic some of the younger generation are about it. It was great partnering with Open Doors on this initiative - if anyone who attended is interested in a career in creating fantastic places for all, I encourage them to contact us about future employment opportunities."