St Helens town centre regeneration opens career pathway for local student

Article date: 19 December 2025

VINCI Building is the main contractor on the St Helens town centre regeneration programme, which is being delivered by St Helens Borough Council and ECF - a partnership between Homes England, Muse and L&G.

Dominic joined VINCI Building in May, attending every Friday for two months and gaining hands-on insight into the work of planners and estimators. Throughout his placement, he tackled a wide range of tasks that helped build both practical and behavioural skills.

Dominic quickly found confidence and enjoyment in the day-to-day office environment, taking on administrative responsibilities and contributing to the social impact team. One of his highlights was helping to create engaging engineering challenges for school children, supporting VINCI's commitment to inspiring the next generation.

Dominic's ingenuity was recognised at Ascent College's Aspire Awards evening, where he received the Value Award for Creativity. This celebrated his work designing and distributing leaflets to local residents and businesses, helping to keep the community informed about the ongoing works in St Helens town centre.

Reflecting on his experience as part of the project team, Dominic said: "I am really enjoying working with VINCI - it's the highlight of my week at college. The team have been brilliant in helping me navigate a new environment and work more independently. I've learned so much about different areas of construction.

"It feels great to play a small part in the redevelopment of St Helens. The experience has really boosted my confidence, especially in meeting new people and working in a real-world setting."

Hannah Bailey, Social Value Manager at VINCI Building, said: "Dominic quickly became a valued member of the team, making a positive impact particularly through his contribution to developing educational resources."

Tara Thomas, Employer Engagement Officer at Ascent Autism College, added: "Opportunities like the work placement with VINCI are incredibly valuable. They allow students to develop real-world knowledge, skills and behaviours in an authentic workplace setting, helping to build confidence and prepare for future employment."

Dominic's experience is an example of the social value that is being delivered through major regeneration projects across St Helens borough. 

Councillor Kate Groucutt, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member - Business and Inclusive Growth, St Helens Borough Council, said: "Our Inclusive Growth Strategy sets out our clear ambition to ensure that young people and adults are equipped with the skills to access and benefit from opportunities linked to regeneration and new developments in high demand sectors. It is fantastic to hear how Dominic has benefited from his time with VINCI building, and I hope it will have a real lasting  impact on his future career."

Matt Whiteley, Senior Development Manager at ECF, said: "Social value is at the heart of everything we do at ECF. Seeing Dominic thrive during his placement and go on to continue his journey with VINCI Facilities demonstrates the tangible impact our projects can have on individual lives and the wider community. This is exactly the kind of legacy we want to leave in St Helens."