Our Case Studies

From Uncertainty to Opportunity

Glynnis joined the first-ever Bricklaying Skills Bootcamp delivered by Constructed Pathways, at Urban&Civic’s Waterbeach Skills Hub. With the curriculum co-written with NHBC and endorsed by key construction industry partners, this ambitious program was designed to give people the essential knowledge, hands-on skills, and mandatory qualifications needed to gain employment in construction.

This case study provides powerful evidence of the importance of communities working together, and how circumnavigating traditional provisions into industry is so vital.

A Difficult Start

Glynis studied at Impington School in Cambridge but admits she lacked focus, often acting as the class clown and never completing her GCSEs, leaving school at just fifteen before mock exams. She regrets her early departure, noting that the death of her father during her school years greatly affected her behaviour. 

“I do regret that now, I believe that the death of my father whilst I was at school had a huge part to play in my behaviour. I think that I was just deflecting away from my own personal matters.” 

By sixteen, Glynis had moved out and taken several local shop jobs, a time when you could simply walk into a shop and ask for work without needing a CV or cover letter.

Despite holding down these roles, Glynis never felt truly settled. Her personal ambition shifted toward raising a family and creating a warm, loving home. She married, had three wonderful children, and focused on that “nest environment”.

“I didn’t really want a career at this point; I just wanted my nest and worked small jobs in-between when needed.”

Discovering Pathways with Abbey People and Constructed Pathways

While supporting the local food bank at Abbey People’s Hub in Abbey Ward, Glynis had experience working with the team there to help improve her CV and interview skills. 

“The team at Abbey People are absolute diamonds.”

It was here where she first heard about the Bricklaying Skills Bootcamp and thought, “why not give it a shot”?

Glynis admits she was apprehensive, “a woman in her sixties going into bricklaying?” But from day one she felt welcomed and found camaraderie in the group; unwavering support from instructors and the Constructed Pathways team. It marked the first time in a number of years she had worked a full five-day week, a routine that proved physically demanding yet energizing.

“The people on the course were such a great bunch, the instructor and Constructed Pathways team were so welcoming and helpful. This was the first time in a while that I had worked five days a week, and it was physically tough on the back after the first week!”

The Skills Bootcamp Experience

Despite these challenges, Glynis both fully attended and completed the course.

“I really enjoyed it. For the first time in a long time, I was going to bed feeling excited about getting up and going again the next day! The work was enjoyable, the team and environment were brilliant, and it filled a space in my life”.

Since completing the course, Glynis has used her new skills in her personal environment to build a fishpond and barbeque in her back garden.

“We haven’t had a leak yet or lost any of the fish so it [my bricklaying] can’t be too bad!”

Due to issues around the completion of the CITB CSCS labourer card, Glynis has not been able to secure work on a construction site to date. However, has subsequently secured employment for the past four weeks with the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge.

“I will look to complete my CSCS card and hopefully secure employment in the local development. But I am really enjoying my new role as a Researcher at the gardens, who learns the names and the details of the plant types to hold discussions with visitors around the gardens” 

“Completing the Bricklaying Skills Bootcamp course has made me feel like I can do anything now. I’m keen to do more learning and training and get more skills under my belt. This course has given me such confidence and belief in myself. Thank you for having the faith in me.”

Glynis’ journey offers powerful proof that when community, industry, and ambition come together, lives can be truly changed.

Constructed Pathways are continuing their support with Glynis and wish her the very best of luck for the future.

From a young age, Amani wanted a career in construction. Read his case study below that highlights how part of the 'system' and pathways meant he wasn't able to fulfil his hopes.

Where it started

"I attended Nene Park Academy in Peterborough which I enjoyed thoroughly and had a good experience, though I have never been the sort of person to enjoy sitting at a desk all day!

School didn't promote the construction industry to me at all, the career path I chose was of pure enthusiasm for the building trade, but more importantly my love for hands on work and physical learning."

The journey to become 'qualified'

"On completion of school ⁠I attended Stamford College, then proceeded with a traineeship with [a construction company] who were working in the local area.

I wasn’t very eager about going to college not because of the course and what I would be doing, but more so the same system of a school, learning etc. I realised that I would have to do it this way and came to the understanding that it was just a step I had to take before being able to find a proper work placement. 

After finishing my 2nd year of college, months earlier than other students I then progressed to working on site. At first with my traineeship I just tried to keep my head down and work. I was placed within a group of around seven other apprentices and someone that was in charge of our 'gang'. As a few of the boys that had been there a some time ended up moving on, it was mainly new and unmotivated apprentices left. I tried to not be dissuaded and overlook what the others were doing and continued with the goal of eventually getting my qualifications moving on. 

As time passed everything seemed to drag and it felt like [the company] didn’t really care or keep on top of what the apprentices were doing or achieving. With it being a big house building firm [it felt like] getting the houses up and sold was the main priority.  I was really disappointed, and as some more time went by as I knew I would have been better off learning with some qualified bricklayers to gain more experience. A proper gang would have been ideal with the motivation and work ethic I came into the trade with but it all came down to not having much options of getting a traineeship when I was searching during my college times. 

Being at [construction company] with a group that was unmotivated and left to their own devices was the only option I was given unfortunately and really hindered any chance I had."

From motivated, to disheartened

"Sadly, ⁠I never did complete my Traineeship. After a year or two had passed with the apprentice group, I met a bricky gang on a site where I decided to on my own accord start working with them even though I was meant to be in the apprentice group, but at this point I tried to go where I would progress most for myself. I continued to work with them for quite some time realising that the time I had worked within the apprentice group wasn’t realistic at all to how bricklayers truly work. I enjoyed working within the bricklaying gang as I was instantly learning more, with harder and higher work ethic, and doing what I love which was bricklaying which I had a passion for from the start. 

⁠As some time went on working with the bricklaying gang which was self employed I was still employed by the company and getting paid the apprentice wage. I could not progress my apprenticeship as it had got to a point where there were no assessors to visit site, and also I didn't feel the company cared at all as they had their own targets.

I thought to myself, "yes I’ve got more experience from the years I worked but there was no sign of gaining a qualification and if I leave and try to move on; learning properly from real bricklayers I’d be starting all over again." By this point also, I was very low on money. Due to these thoughts, I decided that I might as well move onto something else. Bricklaying I loved but from my experience of trying to get into the game and how it works wasn’t something I wanted to do anymore. So I decided to stop doing what I loved and move on while I had the chance and avoid potentially wasting anymore time.

Since then it’s been a few years that have passed, I still miss and have the passion for bricklaying but I'm glad I got out of the game while I could and the situation that I was in."