Lendlease wins Net Zero Hero award with Newham Skills partnership

Key Points

• Lendlease received the Net Zero Hero accolade at the 2025 Get the Nation Learning Awards, sponsored by NOCN.
• Collaboration with Our Newham Learning and Skills expanded curriculum in digital, data, and green skills.
• Targeted support includes learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Tailored programmes and supported internships create clear pathways to employment for local individuals.
• Lendlease demonstrates commitment to sustainable development beyond buildings, focusing on people, skills, and opportunity.
• The Learning and Work Institute highlights the importance of lifelong learning in achieving local and national net zero goals.
• CITB stresses the need for training and skills development within the construction industry to meet present and future challenges.

What was the partnership between Lendlease and Our Newham Learning and Skills?

As reported by Construction Management in their article Lendlease celebrates award for green skills commitment, Lendlease has been recognised for its collaboration with Our Newham Learning and Skills, a programme managed by Newham Council. This partnership focuses on supporting local skills development and employment opportunities, particularly in the areas of digital, data, and green skills. The partnership has notably helped expand the curriculum available through the council’s programme, emphasizing future-oriented skills crucial for a net zero economy.​

What is the significance of the Net Zero Hero accolade?

The Net Zero Hero accolade was awarded to Lendlease at the 2025 Get the Nation Learning Awards, an event led by the Learning and Work Institute to celebrate individuals and organisations that support adult learning and contribute to community and regional growth. The award, sponsored by NOCN, recognises Lendlease’s role in helping the local community in Newham to gain skills aligned with the council’s environmental goals, highlighting the critical role of lifelong learning in supporting net zero ambitions across England.​

How does Lendlease support learners from disadvantaged backgrounds?

According to an article by FE Week covering the Get the Nation Learning Awards, learners supported by the partnership include those from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as individuals with special educational needs and disabilities. Through tailored programmes and supported internships, the partnership aims to create viable pathways into employment, ensuring a more inclusive approach to skill development. This focus addresses both social equity and economic needs, facilitating professional and personal growth aligned with sustainable industry demands.​

What statements did Lendlease’s leadership make about this collaboration?

Andrea Ruckstuhl, managing director for development in the UK and Italy at Lendlease, made several remarks on the partnership and its broader implications. In comments highlighted by Construction Management, Ruckstuhl said:

“At Lendlease we believe that sustainable development is not just about buildings; it’s about people, skills and opportunity. This award reflects our commitment to embedding learning and inclusive employment pathways into the heart of regeneration. By working closely with Our Newham Learning and Skills, we’re helping to equip local communities with the green and digital skills they need to thrive in a net zero future. It’s a powerful example of how collaboration can drive both social impact and environmental progress.”​

Why is lifelong learning important from the perspective of national and local net zero goals?

Stephen Evans, chief executive of the Learning and Work Institute, stated in remarks reported by FE Week that lifelong learning is crucial to supporting both local and national goals related to the net zero transition. Evans emphasised that keeping skills up to date in an economy undergoing significant change is vital:

“Through this partnership, learners have been given the chance to progress in their learning and secure jobs, gaining skills that will be ever more important to our economy and society in the years to come.”​

How does the construction industry view this award and its relation to skill development?

Tim Balcon, chief executive at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), commented on the importance of supporting training and workforce development within the construction sector. As quoted in FE Week, Balcon remarked:

“Now more than ever, it’s vital we are supporting the construction industry to train, develop and retain its workforce and develop a skills system that is able to meet today’s challenges, and resilient enough to meet future needs. The Learning and Work Institute’s lifelong learning awards shine a spotlight on the very best of what the construction industry can achieve when we invest in our people. As we look to the future, it’s vital that more employers embrace lifelong learning and invest in upskilling and reskilling.”​

How does this partnership fit into Lendlease’s broader sustainability and social commitments?

Lendlease, a global real estate and investment group, is known for integrating sustainability into its projects and business operations. The company has been repeatedly recognised for its commitment to green building and net zero initiatives, as detailed on the World Green Building Council platform. Their dedication extends beyond construction to social impact by fostering community skills development that supports environmental objectives. This partnership with Our Newham Learning and Skills exemplifies the company’s holistic approach, combining regeneration, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment.