The Academy of Real Assets has announced plans to double its membership and introduce more than 10,000 young people each year to careers in property, construction and infrastructure by July 2029.
The academy connects UK schools and students with leading firms to increase access, diversity and awareness of career opportunities across the built environment, and it said it was now at a point where it was confident it had proven the model.
In 2025, the firm reached 5,500 students in schools and youth clubs, offering its 60 industry members hundreds of volunteering opportunities to engage with the next generation, increase access to the sector and help bridge the skills gap.
Its programmes focus on secondary school students from under-represented communities and include work experience, careers fairs, employability workshops, site visits and networking events.
Students develop written and presentation skills, as they progress their interest in placemaking and the built environment and how they might shape its future.
Participants also partake in an annual creative writing competition where their views on the industry are published in a book.
The social enterprise is now seeking new members to join and to help make the sector more accessible to all.
Eric Adler, chair at The Academy of Real Assets and chief executive of Legal & General Asset Management, said: “The advisory board has watched the growth and success of the academy in its first four years and we are now confident the model works well.
“There is a hugely impressive team in place to deliver a doubling of the number of young people we reach, and can open doors by summer 2029.”
Stephen Yorke, founder and chief executive of The Academy of Real Assets, added: “There is a wide range of career opportunities in the sector, which often do not require academic excellence and where we simply do not have enough skills coming through.
“The industry needs to step up to address the structural barriers. We have been humbled by the engagement from students, teachers and business. Our 60-strong membership shares an ambition to bring more of the industry together to make a difference to young people’s lives. Our model is scalable, and we look forward to delivering our plans to open doors to 10,000-plus students each year.”
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