The new three-year commitment provides nine scholarships and 60 bursaries to support students facing financial hardship during their studies. The financial support for full scholarships provides £3,000 per year towards the cost of studying. Bursary students receive a support payment of £500.
The Barratt Foundation and Sheffield Hallam University are working together to address the UK’s skills shortage in the construction sector, which has worsened since Brexit. Together, they are supporting students to study in the university’s renowned Department for the Natural and Built Environment and make a valuable contribution to the future of place-making across the country.
This week also saw the launch of a BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Technical Design and Management at Sheffield Hallam University. This is the third degree apprenticeship funded by Barratt Developments, alongside Construction and Quantity Surveying, making it the first house builder to deliver degree apprenticeships across the three main build functions.
Nick Worrall, Group HR Director at Barratt Developments, attended an event at the university to meet some of the students receiving support. He said: “It’s vital for the housebuilding sector to ensure that there is a strong pipeline of talent who bring fresh ideas about building the homes of the future. For The Barratt Foundation that means supporting as many students as we can through scholarships and bursaries, so people from a wide variety of backgrounds can enter the industry.
“The Department for the Natural and Built Environment at Sheffield Hallam is highly respected and by working together, we can ensure the sector keeps innovating to improve quality and sustainability. It’s been a privilege to meet the latest cohort of students on our programme and I have confidence that they will make a positive difference to the housebuilding sector.”
Sheffield Hallam University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Chris Husbands, said: “I am delighted that The Barratt Foundation has chosen to increase their donation to provide more scholarships and bursaries at Sheffield Hallam. Their generous commitment makes a real difference, not only in supporting students to study at degree level, but also helping the university meet the skills needs of our region.”
Emily Wood, who is studying for a BSc Architectural Technology, was the second student to receive a Barratt Scholarship. Emily said: “I’ve always been interested in design and the built environment and the generous donation from The Barratt Foundation has made it possible for me to study my dream course at Sheffield Hallam. The stress of my finances had been weighing in the back of my mind. Finding out I was awarded a scholarship and knowing I wasn’t going to struggle financially through university was a huge relief. It really is amazing what The Barratt Foundation has done for me, and I can’t thank them enough.”
Barratt Developments increased its charitable giving by establishing a dedicated Barratt Foundation, with a substantial increase in charitable giving to £4.5m last year. The Barratt Foundation is committed to building strong community relationships and ensuring it creates a positive legacy that helps local communities to thrive. As part of its charitable giving strategy, The Barratt Foundation supports a range of local and national good causes, and encourages employees to get involved with both fundraising and volunteering.
