Case Study – Dylan’s Journey with We Are Footprint

At We Are Footprint, we believe in doing the right thing – especially when it comes to supporting young people from challenging backgrounds into meaningful employment.

One such success story is Dylan, a young individual who entered the construction industry with limited experience, but an abundance of determination and willingness to learn.

From the outset, we recognised Dylan's potential. Despite facing personal challenges, he quickly demonstrated the resilience, positive attitude, and work ethic essential in the civils and groundworks sector. With our tailored support and structured guidance, Dylan transitioned smoothly into site work, contributing effectively to tasks such as curbing, drainage, and deep hand digging, often under tough weather conditions.

By working collaboratively with his site supervisors and colleagues, and ensuring a compassionate yet accountable environment, we helped Dylan grow in confidence and capability. His success is a testament both to his work ethic and attitude, and to the impact that thoughtful onboarding, practical training, and consistent encouragement can have on a young person's career trajectory.

Our Goals

  • To provide Dylan with practical, hands-on experience in civil construction
  • To support his entry into the workforce, recognising and respecting his background
  • To assess his teamworking ability, reliability, and commitment
  • To offer a stable, structured environment that fosters long-term employment

Challenges We Navigated

  • Ensuring Dylan felt accepted and supported from day one
  • Balancing high expectations with understanding and patience
  • Guiding him through the technical learning curve in groundworks remove and replace with the below
  • Kept weekly contact with him as he started to develop in his role offering practical and well being support
  • Encouraging self-belief without adding pressure or self-consciousness

Our Approach

  • Welcoming Onboarding: Working with the client we supported Dylan, so that he felt safe and valued from the start, creating a pressure-free entry into the team.
  • Hands-On, Gradual Learning: The client introduced Dylan to various site tasks with close mentorship, allowing skills to develop naturally.
  • Accredited Training: We facilitated access to NPORS Dumper and UKATA Asbestos Awareness training to boost his qualifications.
  • Positive Reinforcement:  Dylan received regular feedback and recognition from supervisors, which reinforced his sense of belonging and contribution.

A Lasting Impact
Dylan’s progress has not only set him up for a promising future in construction but also enriched the team he joined. His journey reflects our belief that with compassion, structure, and opportunity, young people can thrive – no matter where they start.

“If you can be happy at work, you tend to get more out of people. That’s always been my philosophy, and Dylan is a perfect example of how the right opportunity can bring out the best in someone.”

– JM, Site Manager -