Careys Construction Campus at Oxford North’s inaugural student cohort celebrates their graduation

Six students, five of whom have joined through SOFEA, the Didcot-based charity that provides education, employability and wellbeing programmes for vulnerable young people, have completed their course in curbing, block paving, drainage and finishing. The course ran for five days a week from 8am to 4pm.

Their graduation ceremony was held at Oxford North on Friday 11 April 2025 with attendees from Oxford North, Thomas White Oxford, Careys, Mace, SOFEA, Activate Learning and Abingdon and Witney College. They were joined by Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, to see the campus and meet the teachers and students.

The campus is place-based rather than project-based so that upon graduation the students are able to consider jobs at Oxford North and on other construction sites across Oxford and Oxfordshire.

All students have completed their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card training and have had an interview. Three have been offered jobs at Oxford North and the remainder have interviews in progress and work is underway to look at placing them at other developments within the county.

Fiona, graduate, Construction Construction Campus added: “When I was 15 years old I started work in a scaffolding business and I absolutely loved it - my grandad and my uncle were in construction and a few months ago, I started to miss scaffolding. I kept being told that you needed a CSCS card and I kept thinking to myself that I had to do it. I had to search it up and then found out about this course through SOFEA. I have loved it - just everything about construction is great because it is satisfying to see your work and what you do expand. I would recommend anyone thinking of doing this course to do it because it's such an amazing opportunity. Getting my certificates is one of my biggest achievements. Honestly, that is amazing.”

Councillor Susan Brown, leader, Oxford City Council added: “It was a real privilege to meet all the young people who have been learning at the construction campus. I have heard from everyone involved here today about how beneficial this opportunity has been to giving confidence and skills to these amazing young people. It's so important for us, for our city and for our country that we encourage people to develop construction skills. We know that there are lots of people out there currently looking for work, and I'm really pleased and grateful that Careys and Oxford North have given local young people this opportunity. It was an important part of the planning approval that local jobs were created and supported but it’s good to see the imaginative ways in which Oxford North has taken this aim forward.”