Inspiring Thurrock’s Future Planners and House Builders

Last week, Thurrock Residential Developers’ Partnership (TRDP) hosted a planning and placemaking workshop at South Essex Colleges Group’s Thurrock Campus, giving students a hands-on introduction to the diverse careers and progression opportunities within the built environment sector.

The workshop highlighted the wealth of career pathways available and the opportunities emerging in the borough. With Thurrock poised for significant growth and sustainable placemaking, driven by much-needed housing and critical infrastructure such as the Lower Thames Crossing - students gained valuable insights into how they can shape the future of their community.

Industry professionals from Hill Group, Thurrock Council, and Iceni joined the workshop to share their knowledge and real-world experience. Through interactive discussions, they introduced students to the vital role of planning and placemaking in delivering sustainable, vibrant communities.

As part of the workshop, students from Construction and Building Services courses took part in a hands-on planning simulation. Stepping into the role of local authority planners, they worked through the complex challenges of designing spatial strategies—factoring in transport networks, land use, environmental constraints, and community needs to allocate housing sites across a mock scenario set in North Somerset.

Reilly Allum, Deputy College Principal Thurrock College, South Essex Colleges Group: “Both the planning workshop delivered by Iceni and the up to date information from the guest speakers provided our Construction and Building services leaners with valuable insight of the progression and employment opportunities available to them in the industry. I’m confident that those who attended the workshop will now not only be increasingly motivated to achieve at SECG Thurrock but also inspired to take the next steps into employment in the sector within our local community.”

The workshop not only highlighted the diversity of roles in the built environment but also empowered students to see themselves as future contributors to Thurrock’s evolving landscape.

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