Leeds Teenager Discovers Her Dream Career at Summer Vocational Programme
Antonia from Leeds attended Building Futures Together’s (BFT) summer programme after her school, Crawshaw Academy, encouraged her to gain work experience to enhance her CV.
A chance encounter between Antonia’s mum and BFT co-founder John Thornton led to the 16-year-old attending three sessions per week throughout the six-week holidays, ultimately achieving her City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills, and developing a clear ambition to become an electrician.
Antonia explained: “My mum works at Screwfix, which supplies BFT. She asked John, on one of his visits to the store, if there were any work experience opportunities, and that’s when she learnt about the summer programme.
“Summer 2024, between year 10 and year 11, I attended three sessions per week, starting with simple lighting circuits before progressing to more complex tasks. The week after I started John asked if I would like to undertake my City & Guilds qualification. This involved completing five different practical tasks, taking photographs and drafting a summary on what I had done, including the health and safety measures.
“Before I attended BFT I didn’t know what I wanted to do but it has inspired me to pursue a career in the construction industry. I hope to one day become an electrician.
“I enjoyed attending BFT more than school because vocational learning works better for me and I was more engaged with what I was learning.
“Not only did attending the summer programme help me decide what I wanted to do with my life, I have also grown in confidence. When I started I was really shy. In July 2025 I travelled to the Houses of Parliament with BFT and participated in a Young People in Construction roundtable and discussed tackling the industry’s skills shortage. In the past, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to go to London.”