The end of two Ferrovial Agroman projects has marked the beginning of a new journey for many people, as a total of 248 pieces of IT equipment has been donated to several local charitable organisations; tackling issues such as advancing education, social skills, improving job prospects and training.
HETCo and Terminal 3 Integrated Baggage did not only leave incredible airport infrastructure as their legacy but they also helped to pave the way for the designers and construction professionals of the future by donating IT equipment to the local community.
The donations to local employability groups form part of the Ferrovial Agroman Community Investment Programme, which recognises that being a responsible business means leaving a positive impact on the surrounding communities.
Among the charities selected is Carney’s Community, a boxing club located close to the Northern Line Extension project currently being delivered by Ferrovial Agroman and Laing O’Rourke, which supports disadvantaged and excluded young people to move away from a life of crime through teaching them life skills, discipline and self-respect.
"We take the at-risk kids that no one else will and build them up. It's in everyone's interest that they succeed"
Since the donations, young people at the centre have been able to use the laptops in quiet areas to help with their revision in the lead up to school exams and they have also been used by a volunteer to process the accounts. The young people have access to training DVDs to work towards achieving a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card which they can now watch on this equipment.
Ferrovial Agroman worked closely with Business in the Community to ensure that the communities closest to the company’s construction sites could benefit from the donations.
Through the Business Connector programme, Business in the Community were able to identify organisations looking to use such equipment to advance the educational, professional or social development of their members and clients.
Another beneficiary, SWIPE, an organisation based in Slough which provides support to children and young people at risk of being excluded from school, received a donation of laptops in March 2015 and director of the project, Jamie Green has said that, ” they are invaluable, a God send.”
"After some disruption and upheaval this year due to refurbishment of the centre, the laptops have meant our activities can continue in other premises and has meant that different groups can have a laptop dedicated to them, wherever they are, where they can store their own files and stay mobile."
The laptops have allowed the organisation to promote a new centre close to the Jubilee River. Using innovative methods such as providing young people in the area with a rowing machine connected to one of the donated screens so they can race with an animated mini-rower, and try out some of the water sports classes that the centre will offer.
Mr. Green also outlined the benefit of using this competitive and engaging technique to not only attract more people to the organisation but also create a strong sense of community along the relatively new stretch of river.
Through donations like this and other community investment activities, such as volunteering and events, Ferrovial Agroman continues to strengthen their relationship with local communities and ensures the impact they leave is a positive one.
About Ferrovial
Ferrovial Agroman manages major, complex, multidisciplinary design and construction projects around the world, in sectors including rail, highways, tunnels, marine, airports and energy. The company has operated in the UK and Ireland since 2003. Flagship projects in the UK include the Crossrail Western Running Tunnels and Farringdon Station, Heathrow Terminal 2A, London Underground’s new Northern Line Extension and the Central Section of the Thames Tideway Tunnel as well as the M8/M73/M74 Motorway Improvement project in Scotland’s Central Belt. Our activities in Ireland include the M3 motorway Clonee-Kells, the DBFO2 in Northern Ireland and the first trans-border motorway in the A1-N1 corridor.
