We are passionate about the built environment. We believe that the things we build matter. They impact generations to come through health, environmental sustainability, social value, and equality.
Our purpose here at Built Environment Skills in Schools is to:
“Build the things that build better things.”
Build literal things – buildings, places and spaces – that build experiential things like health and wellbeing, safety, equality and connectedness.
Construction has the potential power to change the world for everyone. It has more potential impact then finance, or healthcare or politics.
But, as an industry, construction doesn’t always behave that way. At BESS, we want to bring exciting new mindsets and attitudes into the sector, ready to grab the opportunity to make the world a better place.
Why Construction Needs You
We spend an average of 90% of our time indoors, including our houses and schools, as well as shops, gyms and other indoor spaces.
The construction sector contributes 50% of landfill waste, as well as 23% air pollution and 40% drinking water pollution.
By 2030, there will be a projected 662 cities across the world that each have at least one million inhabitants.
BESS Virtual Work Experience is provided by Built Environment Skills in Schools.
Benefits For Students
- Experience the construction industry at its broadest, without having to choose a discipline or technical skill
- Understand the social, environmental and financial challenges that the construction industry attempt to solve
- Match your personality, interests and aptitudes to the right employer and the right part of the construction industry
- Complete in student’s own time and pace - within school enrichment weeks, or outside school
- Online safety is key, and all content is pre-recorded so students do not interact with any adults online
- Valuable skills and experience for CV
- Opportunity to undertake virtual work experience with as many employers and professional bodies as desired
- Unlimited opportunities to experience the built environment from different vantage points and problem-solving challenges
- Be inspired to strive for the most relevant employers, and understand the qualifications and career paths that might be required
Benefits For Employers
- Engage early talent at scale
- Generate a stream of highly motivated students for real-life work experience
- Help to promote understanding and interest in internship and entry-level roles
- Provide students the ability to work on projects that mirrors the work employers do for their clients, and gives them a proven, diverse pipeline of intern candidates
- Direct insights into your company, people and culture
- Highlight and demystify lesser known business units/construction disciplines
- Build brand awareness in specific student groups (eg. STEM, women, gifted & talented)
- Upskill students from a range of backgrounds to build your next generation of talent
- Give students valuable skills and experience for their CV
- Change perceptions of the construction industry through real-world scenarios
Build Better Stuff


Build the things that build better things. Build homes, neighbourhoods, transport networks and accessible spaces that build health, sustainability, social mobility, equality and connected communities.
