Creating a new workspace is no simple task. It includes collaboration across multiple industries ranging from construction, architecture, project management, interior design to law, as well as people across many different job roles, to make it possible.
At Wellington Place we are passionate about creating a positive social impact at every stage of the development process, and with research finding that many young people feel totally excluded from the labour market, and 28% of young people believe a lack of knowledge about the career opportunities open to them in the construction sector is holding them back from entering it, we teamed up with Ahead Partnership to host an inspirational workplace visit with young people from across Leeds.
Leading commercial law firm Hill Dickinson made the move to 11 Wellington Place, and had the exciting task of transforming 9,000 sq ft of space into a vibrant, inclusive and motivating workspace for its team.
With a unique opportunity to learn about an office fitout from start to end, we welcomed 30 Year 7 students from Mount St Mary’s Catholic High School and Dixon’s Unity Academy for two visits at Wellington Place to experience the full journey of how Hill Dickinson’s new space was created.
Before the fit out
The young people were taken on a guided tour of Hill Dickinson’s new office space by Overbury, the interior construction contractor responsible for the fit-out. When walking around the empty office space the students were given a bingo sheet to complete which included finding someone who worked in a trade, or someone who was an apprentice. This was followed by an interactive design and construction workshop.
The workshop taught the students about key considerations at the early stages of a major development project, such as how to best design collaborative workspace, and gave them the chance to apply and develop skills like teamwork and design thinking through tasks and challenges.
After fit out
The students were invited back several months later to see the finished office space. The visit included a treasure hunt to help further familiarise them with what’s often included in an office space and other interesting features, such as built-in conferencing tech in meeting rooms.
After seeing the transformed workspace, the students had a final workshop with more activities which taught them about the final stages of a building project, and they got the opportunity to speak again with representatives from both Overbury and Hill Dickinson, learning directly from the professionals themselves.
Following the visit, 100% of students said it increased their understanding of how to get into different careers, 100% said they developed their team working skills and importantly, 96% said the opportunity made them feel motivated to work harder at school.
The students had a lot of great things to say about the visits. One commented: “I enjoyed seeing the building site before and after”, and another added: “I liked walking around the building. Interior design has interested me the most.”
The volunteers had a great time too! 100% said taking part gave them the opportunity to network with other businesses and one volunteer from Hill Dickinson commented: “The students seemed to enjoy the content and asked lots of questions, so they were clearly engaged with the session.”
Thank you to MEPC, Ahead Partnership, Hill Dickinson, and Overbury who came together to offer a unique and rewarding experience for young people in Leeds.
