Supporting SEND Students into Employment

For many young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), accessing meaningful careers can feel out of reach due to a lack of guidance, misconceptions, and structural barriers.

Supporting SEND Students into Employment

For many young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), accessing meaningful careers can feel out of reach due to a lack of guidance, misconceptions, and structural barriers. However, through targeted initiatives, we are working together with education providers to create pathways into construction, ensuring that talent and potential are not overlooked.

Providing opportunities

One key challenge is the lack of meaningful careers education for SEND students. In areas like Luton, where 66% of SEND young people have had no engagement with an employer, the need for structured support is critical. By working with SEND schools, we are helping to change this.

Practical Steps to Inclusion

Through workshops and engagement, students gain first-hand insight into the industry. These sessions aim to:

  • Challenge misconceptions about working in construction.
  • Provide clear career guidance, including apprenticeship pathways.
  • Build confidence through hands-on activities.
  • Connect students with mentors.

“Engagements with employers such as Willmott Dixon are really important for students with special educational needs, it helps them to better understand and prepare them for the world of work. Our students face many barriers to education and employment, however working with an employer like Willmott Dixon who have a clear commitment to helping and supporting students like ours makes a huge amount of difference”. Lee Nelson, Careers Co-ordinator at Woodlands SEN School

Case study highlights: real impact in action

Our recent initiatives have demonstrated the power of engagement and hands-on learning:

Eco Village Project - Woodlands SEN School

  • Delivered in two phases, this project introduced students to sustainability and construction through interactive workshops and hands-on activities.
  • Workshops were delivered over 5-week period and gave students the opportunity to learn about different roles in construction whilst learning and developing key skills.
  • As students progressed, their confidence and engagement grew, reinforcing the importance of real-world learning experiences.

Seeing Is Believing Workshop

  • Hosted with Luton Borough Council, this session welcomed students to explore career opportunities in construction.
  • Activities included myth-busting about the industry, a ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ quiz, and a design and build challenge.
  • Of the 9 students who attended, 5 expressed interest in pursuing a career in construction.

Changing perceptions

One of the biggest obstacles to employment for students with SEND needs is perception, but with the right support, these students thrive. Employers who take proactive steps, such as educating their supply chains and providing on-site support, create an inclusive workforce while also addressing skill shortages in the industry.

Looking ahead

By continuing to work with councils, enterprise advisors, and schools, companies can drive real change. In Luton, the goal is to have SEND students working on live construction projects in the near future. With the right support, barriers can be removed, and young people with extra needs can build bright futures in the construction industry.