Our innovative partnership programme to create green skills apprenticeships in The Crown Estate's supply chain SMEs
Our partnership with The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate own and manage land across communities, countryside, coast and seabed for the benefit of the nation. They are an independent business sitting between the public and private sectors, acting in the national interest for both today and future generation
The Create programme is an innovative partnership to create new apprenticeships within The Crown Estate's SME network, specifically within subcontractors and suppliers in the development pipeline - with a focus on green skills. These apprenticeships will enable more disadvantaged and marginalised Londoners to access high-quality opportunities to progress into and in work, tackling inequalities and creating inclusive places and opportunities.
The programme is being delivered across The Crown Estate's pioneering net-zero heritage retrofit projects in their London portfolio. Current projects included in the Create programme include New Zealand House, One Hanover Street, 21 Glasshouse Street, 33 – 35 Piccadilly and more.
205,000
Research identified a need for 205,000 workers to focus solely on retrofitting historic buildings every year from now until 2050 in order to meet the UK’s net zero targets - more than double the number currently estimated to have the necessary skills
75%
Research found that 75% of contractors surveyed in England, had not completed any training for pre 1919 building work in the past 4 – 5 years
What support is available to SMEs through the Create programme?
- Tailored 1-to-1 support, information and guidance throughout the apprenticeship process, supporting employers to select appropriate apprenticeship standards, find a training provider, recruit apprentices via inclusive processes, and set up their digital Apprenticeship Service (gov.uk) account
- Access to 'levy transfer' funding from one of our large employer partners, to cover 100% of the cost of apprenticeship training and assessment – managed end to end by Workwhile
- A 'Good Work Health Check' consultation - benchmarking current practice across the four key areas of fair pay; health and wellbeing; diversity & inclusion; and skills & progression, and signposting next steps based on best practice from across the employer landscape
- Access to fully-funded places on our DevelopMentor programme for apprentices' line managers, enriching management and mentoring skills to enable apprentices to thrive
- The opportunity to advertise apprenticeship vacancies with The Crown Estates' other charity partners, including Drive Forward Foundation, Breaking Barriers and Under One Sky
What's the programme achieved and who has benefited?
- In its first year, the Create programme supported 18 new apprenticeship starts, of which 13 are 'green' apprenticeships - ahead of our initial target
- 50% of apprentices were previously eligible for free school meals, and 50% are from families where neither parent attended university
- 83% are aged 25 and under, and 42% were previously unemployed or in full-time education
How to access support
If you are a construction employer, working with The Crown Estate on its major London development projects, you can get in touch by contacting us.
