Our Team support Wates | Back2Work programme at One Horton Heath

Our Southampton Team were delighted to support a fantastic Wates Group initiative, by attending their Back2Work programme event which recently took place at One Horton Heath.

Marcela Szuber and Joanna Janus, both of whom are Resource Managers based out of our Southampton office, took part in a visit to the Lower Acre site section at One Horton Heath. Attended by participants in the Back2Work programme, the site visit was led by Wates Site Manager, Ben Dawes, who gave a great overview of all that happens on a site and explained the housebuilding process. Ben was happy to answer any questions from the group during the site walk through.

Marcela and Joanna were on hand to offer advice, information and encouragement to the participants, while also giving them a better understanding of the potential employment opportunities available upon successful completion of the programme.    

Image: Ben takes the participants on a tour of the Lower Acre site at One Horton Heath

The Wates Group | Back2Work Programme

The Back2Work programme offers participating adults (19+) the chance to visit active construction sites, learn key skills, while also gaining an industry-recognised skills certificate and opening up a pathway into the construction industry. 

The two-week programme helps give participants a more realistic idea of what is involved in working in the construction industry, while offering a head start for those starting out on their career journey. 

On completion the participants will have attained their CSCS Cards, and achieved Level 1 Awards in Basic Construction, and in Health & Safety.

Image: Explaining the residential build process

One Horton Heath

It was also a chance for everyone to get a sense of the scale of what is involved in the groundbreaking One Horton Heath project. This major long‑term community development project in Eastleigh, Hampshire, is designed and delivered in conjunction with Eastleigh Borough Council. It aims to create a new, sustainable neighbourhood with thousands of homes, extensive green space, and early‑delivered infrastructure.

One Horton Heath is a 310‑acre mixed‑use development that will ultimately deliver 2,500 new homes, while also including:

• A new local centre with shops, cafés, community buildings and a transport hub 
• A primary school and early‑years facilities 
• Sports and leisure facilities, including pitches and recreation areas 
• Commercial and employment spaces, including B1/B2 uses at the southern gateway 
• Extensive green infrastructure, wildlife corridors, and open spaces for walking and cycling 

The Eastleigh Borough Council positions the project as a new model for community‑focused, sustainable development.

The Lower Acre section of the development will host a mix of houses and flats alongside an acre of communal open space, with over 650 newly planted trees. Over a third of the new homes will be available for affordable tenants and buyers.  

Image: Exploring the Lower Acre site at One Horton Heath 

A Very Informative Event  

Speaking at the conclusion of the visit Marcela was full of praise for the event and the Back2Work programme;

Joanna and I were delighted to support this Back2Work pre-employment programme by attending the Lower Acre site visit arranged by Wates Group. 

The learners have been working towards their CSCS cards, Level 1 in Basic Construction, and Level 1 in Health & Safety, so the visit was a good opportunity for them to connect their training to a live site environment. 

On the day, we completed a guided tour with the Site Manager, Ben, who explained the housebuilding process and how the site operates. It gave the group a clearer understanding of what to expect when working on a project like this. 

We also spoke with several learners later on, in the project offices, to give them interview experience and discuss potential opportunities, including registering with 3D Personnel.

Initiatives like this are important as they help learners see how a site really operates and provide the chance to speak face-to-face with both employers and the site team, asking questions and gaining insight into real working environments.

The 3D Team look forward to assisting the Wates Group with future Back2Work events.

For more information on the qualifications you will need to work in construction jobs in the UK, or Ireland, have a read of our 3D Guide

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