The First 100 exhibition, hosted in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre earlier this year, celebrated some of the first 100 local people who’ve been supported into long-term jobs on the Canada Water development. Canada Water Connect, a partnership between British Land and charity ELBA, have been busy linking up businesses with great local talent and connecting Southwark residents to life-changing employment. The words and pictures in this exhibition brought the results of this work to life.
Striking portraits of these people in their working environments were displayed alongside their personal stories, with the workers sharing in their own words how they got to where they are today.
Here, we take a look at five of these people and hear what they have to say about the roles they’re fulfilling on the development.
Samie
Project Manager, ELBA
As a Project Manager for charity ELBA, which builds links between businesses and communities in East London and beyond, Samie connects young professionals with opportunities for high-skilled careers.
“Canada Water Connect really prioritises finding opportunities that align with people’s career goals,” he says. “I felt such a sense of excitement when I heard about the project manager role, as it aligns perfectly with my experience and career aspirations. My goal is to be a beacon for the Southwark community, where I was born and raised.
“I take pride in uplifting communities. It’s particularly rewarding to help business leaders understand how our work contributes to a broader ecosystem of social change.
“I want to shift the focus of diversity and inclusion to equity and social justice. It’s not just about having diverse voices but also including and valuing those who are often overlooked and taking everyone’s ideas seriously. With Canada Water Connect, I always felt heard, as my goals were well understood. I’m now living my passion for social mobility.”
Araci Cleaning supervisor
As a supervisor at employee-owned business Principle Cleaning, Araci runs a team responsible for keeping the development clean and tidy.
“I’ve worked as a cleaner in so many buildings but, for the first time, I feel like I belong,” she says. “We are members of the Canada Water team.
“Everybody is friendly and respectful. Before getting this job, I worked part-time and had to commute. It’s great to have a full-time job so near my home and the school. I hope to keep working here and to grow professionally and personally.”
Anthony Level 2 Groundworker, Galldris
On his apprenticeship with Galldris, one of the contractors building public spaces and infrastructure at the Canada Water development, Anthony is learning the skills of preparing a site for construction works. These include installing concrete foundations, laying ducts and pipework and erecting barriers, fences and safety signs.
“I learn different things every day at Canada Water,” says Anthony. “It feels good to learn and earn at the same time. I also like meeting new people at work.
“Before starting here, I was cleaning windows far away. Now, I’m progressing on a Level 2 groundwork apprenticeship. I want to keep learning construction trades and hopefully move up.”
Sylvia
Forklift truck driver, O’Neill & Brennan
It’s going to take a lot of people to build the Canada Water development, and the project is creating a huge number of opportunities in different construction roles. British Land are committed to helping people access these opportunities regardless of age, gender or background, and Sylvia is enjoying her role in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
“I love my job because I earn from it and I’ve made so many friends,” she says. “I’ve learnt a lot about construction at Canada Water and I’m looking forward to learning more. This is my first job local to where I live, so it only takes me 10 minutes to walk here from home.
“I started as a hoist driver on this project and now I’m a forklift driver. I’ve never worked on such a high building before. The view from the top is fantastic. You can see the big boats moving along the Thames and everything. Canada Water Connect is helping more women find opportunities in construction. In the future, I hope to become a manager.”
Angela
Receptionist at Paper Yard, Rapport
Angela has lived in Bermondsey all her life. She discovered British Land after volunteering at employment service Southwark Works during the pandemic, which led to a role as their Construction Apprenticeship and Training Advisor. Now she’s front of house at Paper Yard, which offers more than 30,000 sq ft of lab space for start-ups and local businesses, as part of British Land’s plans to create a life sciences and innovation hub at Canada Water.
“I feel pride in working locally, building a stronger connection to the area,” says Angela. “Canada Water Connect is the ideal platform for finding jobs and training opportunities.
“The best parts of my job are the team I work with and the variety of people I meet and interact with every day, being the first point of contact for clients and visitors. As the Canada Water development continues to grow, it will create even more possibilities for individuals to build their careers and gain valuable skills. My plans for the future include building on the skills I’ve developed and hopefully contributing in a larger capacity.”.
All employees on the Canada Water development are receiving at least the London Living Wage. The number of local people helped into long-term employment now stands at more than 120, with more than 80 people earning and learning on apprenticeships and more than 102 local people having completed professional training courses on their pathway to employment. 39% of all candidates supported into work are Black, Asian or from the Global Majority, making progress towards our ambition to reflect our diverse local community.
While the exhibition is no longer on show in the shopping centre, you can view it online here.
