At Elkins, we’re committed to creating opportunities for young people to build careers in construction. We recently partnered with London South East Colleges (LSEC) to provide its T-Level students with site experience as part of our commitment to providing social value for Royal Borough of Greenwich on its Greenwich Builds programme.
Bringing Learning to Life
In June 2025, we welcomed Tyler, Jada, Madeleine, Vito, Che and Adam from LSEC’s first Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction T-Level course, to begin their work placements on two of our Greenwich Builds developments.
Over the course of a year, the students spent four days at college and one day a week with us working alongside our site teams. Vito, Adam and Madeleine gained experience at Orangery Lane under the guidance of Project Manager, Keith Hill, while Jada, Che and Tyler worked at The Brooks alongside Site Manager, Ian Stubbs. This gave the students the opportunity to experience the everyday running of live construction projects and see firsthand how the knowledge they were being taught at college translates into practice.
Throughout their placements, we have encouraged the students to explore different construction processes and build their confidence and understanding of the industry. The experience extended beyond observing site activities. The students developed their understanding of health and safety, site management and the various stages of construction, while learning from colleagues with a wealth of practical experience.
As part of their development, Jada, Madeleine, Vito and Tyler successfully completed their Health, Safety and Environment Operational tests at STC Group, all achieving impressive scores of between 48 and 50 out of 50. During the same visit, they also took part in a practical plumbing taster session, helping them broaden their knowledge of the trades and activities involved in delivering a construction project.
Supportive Learning Environments
Creating a welcoming environment has been central to the success of the placements. Keith, Ian and our site teams have worked closely with the students to make sure they feel comfortable asking questions, learning from their experiences and developing at their own pace.
Student feedback has been particularly positive, with all of the students rating their overall placement experience 5 out of 5. When asked to describe their experience, they highlighted how welcoming and supportive the team had been, alongside the value of learning directly from experienced professionals.
“Working with Elkins has been a really good experience. Everyone is really friendly and willing to help give a better understanding of the industry.”
Feedback also highlighted the importance of the guidance provided by Keith and Ian, with students praising their approachable manner, willingness to explain processes and encouragement to ask questions. This support has helped them become more confident in their understanding while gradually taking greater independence in their learning.
Forging a Strong Partnership
The success of the programme reflects the close working relationship between Elkins and LSEC. Regular communication between the College and our HR & Learning Development Advisor, Sarah Feleppa, who led the programme, has helped ensure the placements remain relevant to the students’ studies and provide meaningful opportunities for development.
Dan Bogle, Senior Lecturer in Construction and the Built Environment at LSEC, said:
“The placement fitted the T-level aims really well. The level and pace were just right for the students and the flexibility and understanding shown by Elkins was perfect for our young students.”
Tracey Boswell, LSEC’s Employment & T Level Officer, also highlighted the value of the placements:
“Students were able to apply knowledge learnt in the classroom and then expand that knowledge into real life working environments.”
She praised Elkins’ communication and ongoing support, noting that students spoke highly of the teams they worked with and the guidance they received.
In recognition of the partnership and its positive impact, we were delighted to receive a Social Value Award from LSEC in June 2026, celebrating the contribution made through the T-Level programme.
From T-Levels to Apprenticeships
One of the most rewarding outcomes of the programme has been seeing students choose to continue their careers with Elkins. Tyler, Jada and Madeleine have now all begun apprenticeships, allowing them to build on their experience and specialise in their particular areas of interest within the industry, while continuing their academic learning.
Tyler is undertaking a Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor Higher Apprenticeship at London South East Colleges, while he continues to work at The Brooks alongside Site Manager, Ian Stubbs.
Jada is enrolled in a Level 6 Chartered Surveying Degree Apprenticeship at London South Bank University. She is working under the mentorship of our Quantity Surveyor, Louie Panayiotou, another former Elkins apprentice.
Madeleine is completing her Level 4 Associate Project Manager Higher Apprenticeship, gaining experience across our Basildon office as well as our sites at Orangery Lane and Well Hall Road, working with colleagues across our Contracts, Site and Design teams.
All three have made a fantastic contribution to Elkins throughout their placements, and we’re delighted to support them as they take this next step in their careers.
Investing in Future Talent
Our partnership with LSEC reflects our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young people and supporting the next generation of construction professionals. With three students progressing from T-Level placements into apprenticeships with Elkins, we’re proud to be helping them take the next step in their careers.
Elkins’ HR & Learning Development Advisor, Sarah Feleppa said:
“It was great to receive such positive feedback from the students at the end of their placements. We’d like to thank Dan, Tracey and the wider LSEC team for their support, as well as Keith, Ian and all our colleagues who helped make this such a positive experience. It’s been fantastic to see Tyler, Jada and Madeleine’s progress and we’re delighted to have them as part of the Elkins team.”
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