Training skills & careers workshop: Student Construction Brief at Trinity Academy.

For healthcare estates projects, impact is not only measured in square metres delivered. The wider value lies in how investment supports communities, creates opportunity and strengthens the systems around care.

Alongside the refurbishment of Benton House, Aptus led targeted social value activity linked directly to the project, aligned with NTW’s wider focus on wellbeing, inclusion and long-term resilience across the region.

As part of this work, the team partnered with Trinity Academy in Newcastle – a school supporting students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs – to deliver a Green Construction Challenge exploring careers in construction and the built environment.

Students worked in teams as their own “building companies,” taking on roles such as site manager, quantity surveyor and sustainability lead. They designed sustainable housing developments from scratch, planning layouts, integrating renewable energy ideas and producing costed tenders.

The creativity and problem-solving on show was impressive, particularly from students stepping into leadership roles for the day.

Chris Hudson, Employer Engagement and Alternative Provision Teacher at Trinity Academy, commented:

“It was brilliant to see the students so engaged. For many of them, hands-on sessions like this make a real difference to how they see the world of work – and themselves in it.”

Workshops like this help make careers in construction more visible and accessible, particularly for young people who benefit most from hands-on engagement and alternative learning pathways.

This approach reflects Aptus’ commitment to using projects as a platform for meaningful social value – supporting confidence, skills development and future opportunity beyond the site boundary.

Social value activity is closely aligned with NTW’s wider commitment to staff and community wellbeing, including initiatives such as the Trust’s SHINE Fund, reinforcing a shared ambition to deliver long-term value through investment in both facilities and people.

NTW are proud to support better care across the region, improving the quality of the services offered and supporting better care, making a difference with strong social purpose and continuous improvement.