Building Heroes is a Queen’s Award-winning national charity that provides barrier-free skills training to service leavers, veterans, reservists and military family members, supporting their transition from service to civilian life, by equipping them with basic construction skills and industry knowledge, paving the way for second careers in the sector.
The firm has had a long-standing affiliation with the armed forces, having worked on several, key service family accommodation schemes for the Ministry of Defence over the past 20 years, as well as its pioneering Drummond Park development in Wiltshire, which saw veterans enter the construction industry, helping to build homes that they would eventually live in once construction is completed.
In particular, Lovell had a pivotal role in Project BORONA, which saw the creation of 346 service family homes in record time at the Beacon Barracks in Stafford, for families who were relocating in connection with the Army Basing Programme (ABP). Also, Lovell delivered 917 service family homes on Salisbury Plain, as part of the ABP, to make sure there were homes ready for families returning from bases in Germany. These key schemes saw Lovell fully embrace the military family and leave a positive legacy within the veterans’ community.
The government’s most recent data highlights that there are 2.4 million veterans living in the UK and many require a level of support after leaving the forces.
Alongside this, the CITB reported that to meet the government’s new target of delivering 1.5m homes within the next parliament, there would need to be over 250,000 additional jobs created in the sector, and veterans could provide a positive impact to reducing that figure.
As Lovell has developments right across the UK, this new partnership with Building Heroes will provide veterans and the wider military community with a valuable conduit into an organisation that has a wealth of opportunities available.
In partnership with Building Heroes, Lovell will offer veterans enriching on-site experience sessions and detailed industry information. These sessions will be designed to provide invaluable insights, enhance understanding of industry activities and safety protocols, and broaden perspectives on the range of employment pathways within the construction sector.
John Leary, Major Projects Director at Lovell, said: “We’re proud to be a responsible business that creates career opportunities in our industry for people from all walks of life... the construction industry should be inclusive to everyone.
“Our national partnership with Building Heroes will provide those who have left the armed forces with vital support in their career choice post service life. However, it also underlines our commitment to veterans right across the UK who may need support, and we’re looking forward to providing a positive impact through our work with the charity.”
Chris Charles, Chief Executive of Building Heroes, added: "We are immensely proud to welcome Lovell as a Gold Sponsoring Partner to Building Heroes. This partnership marks the beginning of a significant collaboration with a long-standing industry leader, set to profoundly enrich the learning opportunities within our community. Together, we look forward to a year of innovative joint efforts that will not only broaden the horizons of our veterans but also support more of our graduates as they transition into successful civilian careers in construction. This alliance is not just about building skills; it's about building futures, ensuring our veterans and service leavers are equipped to thrive in their new life and new careers outside the service."
