Building Heroes Education Foundation has confirmed a three-year sponsorship agreement with The Worshipful Company of Constructors Charitable Trust, providing long-term support for construction skills training for Armed Forces service leavers, veterans and reservists.
The sponsorship will underpin the charity’s Reaseheath Construction Skills Academy in Cheshire, Building Heroes’ longest-running academy, and will support the continued delivery of training and employability programmes in the North West.
Long-term funding to support construction skills pipeline
The new agreement formalises an existing relationship between the two organisations and provides funding certainty for the academy’s operations over the next three years.
The Reaseheath academy delivers practical construction skills training, industry engagement and tailored employability support for those transitioning from military service into civilian careers.
Building Heroes has trained more than 4,200 members of the Armed Forces community since it was established in 2014, with over 48% progressing directly into employment, self-employment or further qualifications within the construction and built environment sector.
The partnership aligns with the Constructors Charitable Trust’s remit to support education, training and research within the construction industry.
Supporting workforce transition into construction roles
Graduates from the Reaseheath programme have gone on to work across a range of construction-related roles, including trades, construction management, property maintenance, utilities and infrastructure, with employers ranging from major contractors to SMEs, housing associations and social enterprises.
The partnership will also provide learners with access to professional networks, mentoring and industry insight through the Worshipful Company of Constructors.
Doug Barrat, deputy chairman of The Worshipful Company of Constructors Charitable Trust, said:
“The Constructors Company, through its Charitable Trust, feels that this represents a significant step change in our relationship with Building Heroes.
A permanent base for craft and skills training in the construction industry for those leaving the Armed Forces has been an ambition for several years. Now established at Reaseheath in a new bespoke building, this excellent year-round training facility is the culmination of outstanding planning and hard work.”
Skills training and employability support at Reaseheath
Chris Charles, chief executive of Building Heroes, said the sponsorship would safeguard the academy’s future and strengthen links between learners and industry:
“This sponsorship demonstrates an extraordinary commitment, and to have a historic and respected Livery Company take such a purposeful step in support of our mission is something we value enormously.
Their investment will safeguard our provision at Reaseheath, ensuring that hundreds more members of our Armed Forces family can build meaningful post-service careers, while also contributing directly to the skills needs of the construction and wider built-environment sectors.
“We look forward not only to delivering training but to opening doors, through the Company’s membership, networks and influence, that inspire our cohorts to explore every pathway the industry has to offer.”
Andy Gould, curriculum area manager for construction at Reaseheath College, added:
“We’ve been working with Building Heroes for over ten years now, and it’s a partnership that means a lot to us here at Reaseheath.
Craig Blount and I have watched so many veterans come through the programme and completely transform their confidence and skills. It’s hard not to feel proud when you see what they achieve next.
“This new sponsorship gives the academy real stability, which is fantastic. It means we can keep doing what we know works – giving service leavers proper hands-on training, a supportive environment, and a clear route into the industry. It’s good for them, good for the sector, and fantastic for Reaseheath. We’re very proud to be part of it.”
Focus on training delivery and industry engagement
Under the sponsorship, the academy will continue to deliver accredited construction multi-skills training, employer engagement activities, site visits, mentoring and progression support into long-term employment.
The agreement comes as the construction sector continues to face skills shortages, with Armed Forces leavers increasingly recognised as a valuable workforce with transferable skills and experience.
