Ellis Williams is proud to continue our support as sponsors of the PLACED Academy 2026–2027, strengthening our commitment to helping young people across the Northwest build confidence, skills and real routes into careers in the built environment.
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PLACED Academy is an award‑winning, free‑to‑access programme that supports young people aged 11–25 through a long‑term pathway of workshops, mentoring, work experience and industry insight. The Academy supports young people aged 11 to 25 building skills, confidence and real routes into built environment careers.
The Academy’s mission closely mirrors our own People Places Planet ethos and mission to ‘create better environments for the benefit of all’. Their work directly supports under‑represented young people, widens access to the sector by breaking down barriers for young people, giving them a voice in the built environment and opening doors to diverse careers across the industry.
This partnership is about more than sponsorship its also about our team being as active as possible and getting involved in all the opportunities available to support. This involvement helps deepen our impact, broaden geographic reach, and ensure students gain direct insight into how real-world planning, design and construction decisions shape our towns and cities.
It is about leaving a lasting positive legacy that extends beyond the projects we deliver. By helping to inspire and nurture the next generation of built environment talent, we are supporting an initiative that is actively future‑proofing our industry.
You can find out more about PLACED Academy here and learn how you can be involved in shaping and supporting the rising stars of tomorrow.
PLACED Academy Impact Summary 2025–26
Growing Reach & Participation
- 1,473 opportunities provided across all programmes
- 128 sessions delivered
- 325 young people engaged – our largest cohort to date
- Participants represented Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, and beyond
- 61% female participation and 47% ethnic minority representation, demonstrating strong progress in inclusion
- 29 young people with additional needs supported
- 47 free school meal recipients engaged
Transformational Impact on Young People
Feedback shows PLACED Academy is building confidence, skills, and real routes into careers:
- 97% understand how the design of towns and cities impacts people and the environment
- 96% have better knowledge of built environment careers
- 95% understand how places are designed and who is involved
- 91% feel confident sharing their ideas
- 90% developed skills that support school, college, or university
- 88% feel more confident they could work in the built environment
- 78% feel empowered to shape decisions about where they live
Bridging Industry & Youth
The programmes embed professionals directly into workshops, mentoring, and placements:
- 886 volunteer hours contributed
- 31 work experience placements
- 22 mentorship pairings
- 100% of mentors and mentees rated sessions good or excellent
- 88% of placement students reported increased confidence and improved understanding of careers
Powerful Personal Journeys
Case studies from Zeke, Will, Aizah, Katrina, and Kaitlyn highlight the Academy’s role in:
- Building confidence and independence
- Opening up new career pathways
- Providing meaningful industry insight
- Supporting progression into apprenticeships, university, and early careers
- Creating a sense of ownership and pride in local places
Social Value & Community Impact
PLACED reinvested £35,000 into PLACED Academy, ensuring all programmes remain 100% free to access. Our sponsors and partners play a vital role in sustaining this work, helping us diversify the future talent pipeline and embed youth voice into real projects across the region.