Local students visit Emsworth affordable homes development and learn about the housing industry

Leading housing association VIVID and developer Doswell welcomed students from Warblington School to the Coldharbour Farm development in Emsworth.

The students had the opportunity to explore the site, meet professionals working on the development, and learn more about the wide range of career opportunities available within construction and housing.

Mike Shepherd, Chief Investment Officer at VIVID, said: “It’s great to welcome these young people to one of our developments and give them the chance to get a glimpse of the sector and the opportunities that construction and housing can offer. I hope they enjoyed the visit and got a sense of how exciting it can be to be involved in creating new homes.”

Ryan Doswell, Contracts Manager at Doswell, said: “It’s always great to get young people out on site and show them what construction is really about, especially on a development in their own community. There’s a real need for the next generation to come through the industry, and visits like this are a good way to spark that interest early on. Hopefully, it’s given them a better idea of the different paths into construction and got a few thinking about it as a future career.”

Chloe Giles, Enterprise Coordinator at Hampshire Careers Hub, said: “This visit is a great example of how employers can bring careers education to life, particularly through meaningful employer encounters and experiences of workplaces. By engaging directly with professionals on site, students gain a clearer understanding of the skills and pathways required, as well as insight into the strong demand for construction and housing roles across Hampshire. We’re really grateful to Doswell, VIVID and Jackson Rowe for their support and for taking the time to provide such a valuable experience for the students.”

The development includes 44 new homes, with 37 for social rent and 7 for shared ownership.