Dallaglio signs up to Show House

March 9, 2018 / Keith Osborne
Dallaglio signs up to Show House

Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio has been appointed Show House Jobs ambassador, helping to promote housebuilding as a career of choice for young people across the UK.

Dallaglio is the founder of Dallaglio RugbyWorks – a charity focused on delivering an intensive, long-term skills development programme, designed to help teenagers excluded from mainstream education get into education, employment or training.

There is a clear synergy between Lawrence’s charity and the need for the housebuilding industry to attract and train young people.

“I am delighted to become a Show House Jobs ambassador. Dallaglio RugbyWorks was the charity partner of the WhatHouse? Awards last year, which I very much enjoyed co-hosting alongside Jack Whitehall. A big thank you for the generous support that day and we are partnering with the Awards again this year,” says Dallaglio.

“We know there is a huge need to address the skills shortage and inspire young people to join the housebuilding industry and we are talking with companies around Employability Days and schools sponsorship. It is a great industry to showcase to the teenagers we work with.”

Dallaglio RugbyWorks runs a three-year, personalised programme for young people enrolled in Alternative Provision (AP) schools.

“Working with years 10 to 11 as part of the school curriculum, our dedicated coaches use rugby and classroom activities to develop critical life skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork and aspiration,” said Dallaglio.

In Year 12 the charity works on a one-to-one basis with the teenagers, supporting the difficult transition out of AP and back into the mainstream system.

“By continuing our relationship we help at-risk youngsters sustain further education, training or employment for the long term,” said Rachel Roxburgh, CEO of Dallaglio RugbyWorks.

Property and rugby have always enjoyed a strong bond and Dallaglio himself studied urban estate management at Kingston University, before working for Lambert Smith Hampton.

“We are thrilled that Lawrence has agreed to be an ambassador. He is a fantastic role model and as driven off the field as he was on it, as one of England’s greatest ever players, bringing the virtues of commitment, passion, compassion and leadership into his charity work,” says Rupert Bates, editorial director of Show House.

“We are looking forward to working with Lawrence and his RugbyWorks team, highlighting the attractions of a career in the new homes industry to the children his charity supports. Roca held an Employability Day last year and McGee are also big supporters. We would love to hear from companies across the supply chain that would like to get involved. We will be regularly featuring industry partnerships with the charity in these pages and online.”

Dallaglio says when a pupil is excluded from school, the reasons often go much deeper and they need more understanding and support to get back into education and then employment.

“Additional support, not less, makes the difference between success and failure for these kids. I know when I was 14 I would have appreciated the same help. Our programme is a chance for these kids to think about life a bit differently. We are very grateful for the support from the housebuilding industry.”

 

Lawrence Dallaglio OBE played 85 times for England, winning the World Cup in 2003. He went on three British & Irish Lions tours and captained Wasps to both the European Cup and the English Premiership. He is BT Sport’s lead rugby expert.

 

Come to listen and talk about housebuilding careers – apprenticeship, diversity, training and leadership – at our New Homes Debate in London on Thursday 15 March 2018.

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