Building Heroes and The Worshipful Company of Constructors launch three-year sponsorship to support transitioning military personnel at Reaseheath College and University Centre.
Building Heroes Education Foundation has announced the launch of a three-year sponsoring partnership with The Worshipful Company of Constructors Charitable Trust, strengthening a longstanding relationship focused on supporting armed forces service leavers, veterans and reservists into rewarding civilian careers.
The sponsorship will support the continued delivery of Building Heroes’ longest-running Construction Skills Academy, based at Reaseheath College and University Centre in Cheshire, providing long-term stability for training provision serving the military community across the North West.
The Worshipful Company of Constructors has supported Building Heroes for many years through donations, advocacy and ongoing engagement. This formal Academy Sponsorship now deepens that commitment, helping to underpin vital skills training delivered in partnership with Reaseheath.
Through the Reaseheath Construction Skills Academy, service leavers, veterans and the wider military community will continue to access high-quality training, practical skills development, industry exposure and tailored employability support, building the confidence needed to progress into sustainable second careers within the construction and built environment sector.
The Worshipful Company of Constructors Charitable Trust is one of the City of London’s historic Livery organisations. Its partnership with Building Heroes supports the Trust’s remit to advance education, training and research within the construction industry, while Reaseheath provides the specialist facilities, teaching expertise and learning environment that enable delivery on the ground.
Building Heroes, a Queen’s Award for Enterprise recipient (Social Mobility, 2022), has trained more than 4,200 members of the Armed Forces community since its formation in 2014, with over 48 per cent progressing directly into employment, self-employment or further qualifications within the construction sector.
The sponsorship will help ensure this impact continues, while strengthening regional pathways into industry through Reaseheath.
Graduates from programmes delivered at Reaseheath have progressed into roles with major contractors, SMEs, social enterprises and housing associations, working across trades, construction management, property maintenance, utilities and infrastructure. Many have also gained the confidence to establish their own businesses.
Through the Worshipful Company of Constructors and its professional network, academy cohorts will also benefit from industry expertise, professional mentorship and direct insight into the sector’s evolving opportunities.
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.”
Chris Charles, CEO of Building Heroes, said: “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, said: “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. It means we can keep doing what we know works, providing hands-on training, a supportive environment and a clear route into the industry. It’s good for learners, good for the sector, and something Reaseheath is very proud to support.”
