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Create - Projects

A Partnership between

Mace & T Level Construction

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Intent

To address skills shortages in construction, Mace partnered with LDE UTC to give learners a deeper understanding of modern construction practices. The balance between commercial viability, environmental responsibilities, and social objectives is challenging for learners to understand, and teaching staff wanted learners to undertake work to see how businesses manage the social responsibility aspect of their remit by setting suitable KPIs to foster sustainable practices within a commercial enterprise. Mace, a global consultancy and construction firm, took the lead on this project.

Implementation

Learners were given a brief to tender for a new construction project with a building boldly designed to fit into a London borough whilst offering originality, creativity and sustainability. Mace enabled the participants to visit different construction sites to spark ideas and meet the professionals engaged at various stages of the construction process. Learners were then placed in teams to create their proposals and were notionally awarded a £30 million budget. The practical ‘hands-on’ part of the project saw learners using straws for steel beams, lollipop sticks for timber and Lego for bricks as they created their designs before showcasing their ideas to the experts. The judges were carefully noting the design features that demonstrated sustainability but also met social needs without incurring expenses that exceeded revenue.

Impact

The design and creativity skills of learners were developed and linking the concepts to real world budgetary, environmental and social targets brought to the forefront the interlinked nature of construction projects. Teamwork was developed, and in particular, learners learned how to pitch their ideas and respond to feedback, providing invaluable workplace skills for the future. Learners developed practical construction knowledge, leadership awareness, and presentation skills.

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Learner Quote:

“My mentor explained how projects move from design to construction. It helped me see how I could start as an apprentice and progress to management. This task really helped us to visualise how we want our building to be. Working in a team meant we had to communicate our different ideas to bring them together, whilst considering the brief, our budget and the time constraints. It felt like a real-life construction project!”

Teacher Quote:

“What struck me most was how well the learners rose to the complexity of the task. They didn’t just treat it as a classroom exercise, they engaged with it as if they were genuine professionals. The confidence they built in presenting their ideas to Mace will stay with them long after the project.”

Employer Quote:

“Working with the learners was a rewarding experience. They approached the tender process with real energy and curiosity, and it was clear they were eager to learn from industry practice. Seeing them translate classroom theory into practical, innovative proposals was encouraging for the future of our sector.”

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Further key concepts

Further key concepts are explored, supporting retrieval practice through this employer-led project. While the main focus was on designing buildings with sustainability, social responsibility, and commercial viability in mind, the activity also reinforced a broad range of T Level Construction concepts. Learners examined how to interpret and respond to professional briefs, gained insights into the tendering process, and considered budget limits alongside environmental and social priorities. They developed teamwork, leadership, and project management skills, while practising how to pitch and defend their ideas to industry professionals.

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Industry Skill Exam Key Concept (T Level Construction – Pearson)
Understanding the tendering process. Procurement and tendering; processes in construction projects.
Translating briefs into commercially viable designs. Responding to briefs; balancing cost, sustainability, and client requirements.
Applying sustainability and social responsibility principles. Sustainable design; environmental considerations; social value in construction.
Collaborative teamwork with professionals. Teamwork; communication across disciplines; multidisciplinary project delivery.
Leadership and project management awareness. Project planning and management; leadership and decision-making.
Presenting and pitching proposals effectively. Communication skills; presenting technical designs clearly and persuasively.
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