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Students have been given a behind-the-scenes tour of a multi-million-pound university redevelopment in London’s East End as part of a major drive to attract more young people into the construction industry.
The leading representative body for the sector, Build UK, and major contractor Willmott Dixon hosted the visit at the £48.8 million project to provide a new home for Queen Mary University of London’s School of Business and Management, which is set to complete in 2027.
The seven-storey development will offer high-quality, flexible learning and teaching spaces, whilst contributing to the wider enhancement of Mile End Road and the improvement of public spaces.
During the visit, the group of Construction Management students from the Global Banking School, which has campuses across London, heard about the different roles involved in the project before changing into PPE to see the site in action.
The event was an exclusive preview for Open Doors 2026, which will be delivered by Build UK between 23 and 28 March and is supported by CSCS. It will see organisations across the UK hosting free tours of their sites and workplaces to inspire young people and those seeking a career change to choose construction.
Open Doors 2025 attracted a record 7,000 visitors, and comes as the industry needs to recruit around 50,000 extra workers each year to meet demand for housing, infrastructure and maintenance, according to the CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook report.
Tamsin Parkes, Open Doors Project Manager at Build UK, said: “Open Doors is a fantastic way for schools and colleges to demonstrate that they are meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks by providing an opportunity to see the construction industry in action.
“For today’s students, their visit has helped not only to affirm their career aspirations but given real world context to their studies. There is a career in construction for everybody, and Open Doors is a first step for young people to explore what the industry has to offer.”
Speaking on its partnership with Open Doors, Graham Dundas, CEO at Willmott Dixon and a member of the Build UK Board, added: “As a leading contractor and proud Open Doors partner, we are committed to attracting and developing the next generation of construction talent. Through Open Doors, we’ve seen first-hand how opening our doors to visitors can spark curiosity and reveal career possibilities that young people simply hadn’t considered before.
“Students visiting our sites will be stepping into an industry that offers incredible opportunities, diverse careers, and plays a vital role in building Britain’s future – and they’ll see the quality and innovation we bring to projects like Queen Mary University’s new business school.”
Booking for Open Doors 2026 will open on 12 January 2026 and education providers can register their interest in attending events in their area now or find out more at https://opendoors.construction/careers-leaders/.
