Morgan Sindall delivered work experience opportunities at the Workington Innovation Centre to support people who were unemployed or recently made redundant to explore careers in construction.
Morgan Sindall delivered a range of social value activities at the Workington Innovation Centre, including employment, skills development, community engagement, mental‑health support and environmental initiatives.
Key facts
| Supplier | Contract | Contract value | Date social value applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Sindall Construction | Workington Innovation Centre | £11,304,447 | 2025 |
Adult Work Experience
Overview
The Adult Work Experience Programme was created in collaboration with All Together Cumbria, the Department for Work and Pensions and Inspira.
The programme supported people who were long‑term unemployed or recently made redundant by offering a two‑week taster of working on a live construction site.
Activities took place at the Workington Innovation Centre.
Participants were introduced to a wide range of tasks including reading drawings, understanding work schedules, quality control, safety standards and how construction processes are organised.
Image
Social value achievement
Measured outcomes from this project:
- first cohort - 4 adults, 148 hours of work experience (SOC04)
- second cohort - 5 adults, 24 weeks of training, 21 volunteer hours (SOC04)
- 1 participant gained paid employment with Morgan Sindall (SOC04)
- 5 participants gained employment and two undertook further training through Bootcamps (SOC04, ECO02)
Themes and priorities
Social value menu theme and reference: Social (SOC04)
Priority: Addressing inequalities
Social value menu theme and reference: Economic (ENC02)
Priority: Local economies that work for local people
Wider benefits delivered
These wider benefits show how the project supported people, communities, the local economy and the environment.
Social value
The programme helped people facing unemployment gain confidence, new skills and a clearer understanding of careers in construction.
Feedback from All Together Cumbria described the experience as highly positive, with participants feeling well supported by the site team. Most participants left the programme more confident working in a construction environment and several expressed interest in pursuing construction careers.
Economic value
The programme created meaningful pathways into employment and training. One participant secured paid work on the project, and several others progressed into jobs or further skills development through Bootcamps. Support also included CV writing and interview skills delivered by Morgan Sindall’s regional office staff.
Environmental value
While the core focus of this activity was employment and skills, the programme sat within a wider project that promotes sustainable construction practices and responsible site management.
Local Employees
Morgan Sindall prioritised local employment at the Workington Innovation Centre, ensuring that the project created meaningful jobs and opportunities for people living in the surrounding area.
Overview
The project team included an Operations Manager, Project Manager and Senior Site Manager who all live locally, with 2 members of the team originally from the area.
The team expressed pride in delivering a development in their own community, and partners working with Morgan Sindall fed back that they also felt proud to contribute to a project that strengthens the future of Workington.
Through the wider supply chain, the project has supported over 9 full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions, with this number expected to continue increasing as work progresses.
Activities were delivered at the Workington Innovation Centre and involved talented local people working in construction and related roles.
Social value achievement
Measured outcomes from this project:
- target for local employment - 3 FTE
- actual local employment achieved - 9 FTE (ECO02)
Themes and priorities
Social value menu theme and reference: Economic (ENC02)
Priority: Local economies that work for local people
Wider benefits delivered
These wider benefits show how the project supported people, communities, the local economy and the environment.
Social value
Local staff involvement created a strong sense of pride and ownership among the project team and partners. Being able to contribute to a major development in their own community helped strengthen connections between the workforce and the local area.
Economic value
By significantly exceeding the local employment target of 3 FTE, the project generated wider economic benefit for Workington and the surrounding area.
The supply chain played a major role by bringing skilled workers from within a 20‑mile radius, contributing to a monetised social value figure of £286,883, compared to the original target of £93,855.
Environmental value
While this strand focused primarily on employment, the project’s commitment to local recruitment also reduced travel requirements for staff and supply‑chain partners, lowering transport‑related environmental impacts.
Lakes College Employer Pledge
Morgan Sindall supported the Lakes College Employer Pledge to provide meaningful work experience and training opportunities for young people studying T‑level qualifications in the Cumberland area.
Overview
As Platinum supporters of the Lakes College Employer Pledge, Morgan Sindall partnered with Morgan Sindall Infrastructure to offer T‑level placements at the Workington Innovation Centre.
One student completed a paid summer placement through the Business and Administration T‑level, while another began a placement with the Project Manager and Site Manager to learn about business systems and project management before applying for an apprenticeship with Sellafield.
This placement is designed to cover the required 9 week T‑level work experience period, with attendance one day a week plus college break periods.
The programme supports students by exposing them to live construction projects, professional working environments and real‑world decision‑making.
Social value achievement
Measured outcomes from this project:
- two paid placements (12 weeks each) (SOC04)
- 1 student continued on site unpaid due to positive experience (SOC04)
Themes and priorities
Social value menu theme and reference: Social (SOC04)
Priority: Addressing inequalities
Wider benefits delivered
These wider benefits show how the project supported people, communities, the local economy and the environment.
Social value
The Employer Pledge placements helped young people gain hands‑on experience in construction, develop confidence and understand potential career pathways.
Feedback showed that the experience was valued, with one student continuing on site one day a week unpaid because the placement was so positive and beneficial.
Economic value
Providing paid placements directly supported young people entering the workforce. The partnership with Lakes College and the involvement of Morgan Sindall Infrastructure created structured routes into employment and future apprenticeships in the local economy.
Environmental value
While the focus of this activity was on training and skills, students gained insight into sustainable construction practices embedded within the Workington Innovation Centre project.
Positive Masculinity Project
Morgan Sindall developed a pilot programme to support the mental health of young men in Workington, linking the experiences of teenage rugby players with the realities faced by adult men working in construction.
Overview
Working with Little Blackbird and the U15 coach at Zebra Rugby, Morgan Sindall delivered a pilot mental‑health programme for young men.
The project was designed in recognition of the high suicide rates among young men in Cumbria and the cultural barriers that can prevent open discussion about wellbeing. The programme also drew parallels with the experiences of adult men working on construction sites, where similar cultural pressures exist.
The activity took place at the Workington Innovation Centre and aimed to provide honest conversations about mental health, challenge unhelpful stereotypes and promote early support.
The project produced a film aimed at supporting other young adults. Watch “The Man I Want to Become” on YouTube.
Social value achievement
Measured outcomes from this project:
- 2 training sessions and 2 site visits with career and mental‑health discussions (SOC02)
- film created and shared widely to support young men’s mental health (SOC02)
Themes and priorities
Social value menu theme and reference: Social (SOC02)
Priority: Addressing inequalities
Wider benefits delivered
These wider benefits show how the project supported people, communities, the local economy and the environment.
Social value
The pilot opened up conversations about mental health among young men in Workington, helping challenge stigma and supporting honest discussion.
Linking the experiences of teenage rugby players with construction workers highlighted shared pressures and helped encourage young men to access support sooner. The resulting film continues to reach wider audiences and is available for other young people to view.
Economic value
By involving construction staff as role models, the programme helped young men understand the realities of working in the industry and the support available. This may encourage more young people to consider construction careers, strengthening future local recruitment.
Environmental value
While the core focus was mental health, the work took place within a project that promotes sustainable construction practices at the Workington Innovation Centre.
The Line – Environmental Project
Overview
The Line is an environmental project due for completion in February/March 2026. Further detail will become available as the project progresses.
Social value achievement
Measured outcomes from this project:
- environmental project activity (ENV07)
Themes and priorities
Social value menu theme and reference: Environmental (ENV07)
Priority: Environmental resilience and climate emergency
Local Spend
Overview
Local spend on the project exceeds projected targets, with updated figures to be confirmed at project completion.
Social value achievement
Measured outcomes from this project:
- local spend exceeding projections (ECO05)
Themes and priorities
Social value menu theme and reference: Economic (ECO05)
Priority: Delivering excellent public services