CAREER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Please consider the below points when submitting your entry.

1. Programme Design: Demonstrate a clearly structured initiative, whether an apprenticeship scheme, graduate programme, work experience placement or other early-career pathway, with defined goals and a clear route into the industry. This will be judged based on programme structure, eligibility and stated objectives. 

2. Skills Development: Show how the initiative builds practical, transferable skills relevant to a career in construction. This will be judged based on training content, mentoring provided and skills outcomes achieved. 

3. Diversity and Inclusivity: Evidence a genuine commitment to widening access to the industry, reaching candidates from underrepresented or non-traditional backgrounds. This will be judged based on outreach strategy and the diversity of participants engaged. 

4. Impact and Progression: Demonstrate the initiative's effect on participants' career progression, whether into permanent roles, further training or higher qualifications. This will be judged based on retention rates, progression data and participant feedback. 

5. Innovation: Highlight what makes the approach distinctive compared with standard industry practice. This will be judged based on originality of design and delivery. 

6. Scalability and Legacy: Show how the initiative can be sustained or expanded, and the longer-term contribution it makes to solving the industry's skills gap. This will be judged based on evidence of continuity, growth plans or replication elsewhere.