By Ganymede
Supporting Communities and Building Careers: Ganymede's Approach to CSR in Construction and Rail
At Ganymede, corporate social responsibility is more than a policy. It is a long-term commitment to using our business expertise to benefit local communities, support social mobility, and help address the skills shortage across rail, infrastructure and construction.
One of the most effective ways we deliver this value is by engaging directly with schools, colleges and community organisations to promote career opportunities in our sector.
Delivering Social Value Through Community Engagement
Chris James, a dedicated member of the Ganymede team, recently supported two impactful initiatives led by our client, Story Contracting. These sessions were designed to raise awareness of career pathways in construction and engineering, while helping individuals build the skills and confidence to progress.
Working in partnership with People First, an organisation that provides guidance and support to people who have faced significant barriers to employment, Chris delivered an engaging and hands-on session in Carlisle. The group explored a wide range of roles available in construction, tried on PPE, and worked together on a marshmallow and spaghetti tower challenge designed to encourage teamwork and creative thinking.
Feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive:
“The session was informative, engaging, fun and inclusive. Chris was kind, supportive and fun throughout, and the activity he provided was a brilliant challenge. Thank you for an awesome session, Chris.”
Inspiring Future Talent in Civil Engineering
Chris also delivered a CV skills workshop to a group of Year 12 students with an interest in civil engineering. This session formed part of a wider work experience programme delivered by Story Contracting and aimed to equip students with practical knowledge to support their future applications in the sector.
Reflecting on the experience, Chris said:
“It was great to be able to support one of our valued clients with their community engagement and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be involved. I am passionate about people of all backgrounds having equal opportunities, so it was great to find out more about People First and the fantastic work that the team carry out in the North. As an industry, despite what we may see in the media currently, there is still a huge skills shortage, so it is vital we promote construction as a career option to everyone. The session was extremely engaging, interactive and most importantly great fun.”
Addressing the Skills Shortage Through Outreach
These sessions are just one example of how Ganymede supports clients with their social value goals while also addressing wider industry challenges, such as the continuing shortage of skilled workers in construction and infrastructure.
By helping people from all backgrounds explore pathways into the industry, we play an active role in building a stronger and more inclusive workforce for the future.
Partner With Us to Inspire the Next Generation
As part of our continued commitment to creating social value through education and outreach, Ganymede is actively working with schools, colleges and community groups to promote careers in rail, construction and engineering.
If your organisation would benefit from a careers workshop, CV session or industry insight event delivered by our team of recruitment experts, please get in touch using the form below.