McConnell Dowell and Built Environs, our vertical construction company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ara Education Charitable Trust (AECT) in late June.

Members of the Senior Leadership Team from both organisations came together to build relationships and lay the foundation for future collaboration.

AECT is a not-for-profit organisation that provides work experience and career education for students in their final two years at school. The trust also helps students obtain work placements after they have graduated from the Trade Academies Programme.

Currently, the AECT team is working with students from five South Auckland schools. Old state houses are donated to the trust by Kainga Ora, Auckland Council, Auckland Airport and the Eastern Busway Project. Those enrolled in the programme spend a year renovating the donated houses so they can get real-life experience. “It’s about teaching our young men and women about work ethic; coming to work on time and completing the work to a standard where they can be proud of what they have achieved,” says carpentry tutor Mat Watford.

McConnell Dowell’s purpose is to ‘provide a better life’ and partnering with AECT is one way we can support a new generation eager to enter the construction industry.

Social and Broader Outcomes Advisor, Donna Wilson, has identified three areas where we can collaborate; hands-on engagement with their Forever Home Project for meaningful outcomes in the community, providing our skilled employees who can teach students, and recycling materials from our various work sites to support their charitable builds.

Donna is excited about the partnership’s potential and keen to see how it grows and the Forever Homes that we will build together with AECT.