Amey and National Highways Deliver Second STRIVE Programme to Support Care Leavers into Infrastructure Careers

Amey and National Highways Deliver Second STRIVE Programme to Support Care Leavers into Infrastructure Careers

(IN BRIEF) Amey and National Highways have delivered the second STRIVE programme in Nottinghamshire, supporting five care leavers aged 18–21 with hands-on experience and employability skills linked to careers in transport infrastructure. The week-long initiative combined depot visits, practical demonstrations, skills workshops, and a behind-the-scenes visit to the East Midlands Regional Operations Centre. Building on a successful pilot in the North West, the programme supports Amey’s Care Leaver Covenant commitment and wider social value objectives by helping care-experienced young people gain confidence, insight, and clearer pathways into employment.

(PRESS RELEASE) OXFORD, 14-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Amey, working in partnership with National Highways, has successfully delivered the second edition of its STRIVE employability programme, a week-long initiative designed to help care leavers build confidence, develop workplace skills, and explore career opportunities within the transport infrastructure sector. The programme reflects a shared commitment to inclusive employment and long-term social value.

Building on the success of the inaugural STRIVE cohort held in the North West last summer, the latest programme was delivered in Nottinghamshire (Area 7). It supported five care leavers aged 18 to 21 who were referred by the Nottinghamshire Leaving Care Team and Homes2Inspire. Participants were selected based on their potential to benefit from structured exposure to real working environments and clearer insight into future career pathways.

Across the week, participants were introduced to the full lifecycle of highways service delivery, from early-stage design and planning through to maintenance and operational activity. The programme included visits to Amey’s Felley and Sandiacre depots, where the group spent time with operatives, supervisors, and managers to understand day-to-day responsibilities and operational challenges. Practical demonstrations of vehicles, equipment, and highways maintenance tasks provided hands-on experience and a realistic view of the sector.

Alongside operational exposure, STRIVE placed a strong focus on employability skills. Participants took part in communication workshops, health and safety sessions, and career journey discussions with colleagues from both Amey and National Highways. One of the standout moments of the programme was a behind-the-scenes visit to the East Midlands Regional Operations Centre, where participants observed in real time how the region’s road network is monitored, managed, and kept moving.

The initiative forms part of Amey’s wider social value strategy and its commitment as a signatory of the Care Leaver Covenant. As part of this commitment, Amey has ring-fenced a dedicated role within Area 7 for a care-experienced young person, helping to translate engagement and learning into tangible employment opportunities.

National Highways played an active role throughout the programme, offering insight into the breadth of careers that support the highways network and reinforcing the value of collaboration between public and private sector partners. Both organisations highlighted the positive impact of STRIVE on participants’ confidence, awareness, and readiness for work.

Through initiatives such as STRIVE, Amey continues to demonstrate how targeted, practical programmes can help remove barriers to employment for care leavers, while supporting the delivery of sustainable infrastructure solutions that enhance lives and protect the future.

Key facts about Amey

We are a leading provider of full life-cycle engineering, operations and decarbonisation solutions, for transport infrastructure and complex facilities.

Our purpose is to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions, enhancing life, protecting our shared future.

We combine exceptional expertise in Consulting & Design, Advisory & Analytics, Transport Infrastructure and Complex Facilities to design, manage, and maintain clients’ assets throughout their lifetime.

Our leading data and analytics capability enables us to create transformative solutions that strengthen resilience and drive sustainable improvements.

Media Contact:

email: press.office@amey.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 713 240

SOURCE: Amey