MADDIE ROSE FOUNDATION MADDIE ROSE FOUNDATION LAUNCHES TO
HELP NUTURE FUTURE CAREERS The launch of the Maddie Rose Foundation last month represents the next stage in a campaign that has brought the sector together with a simple aim, to build a legacy and help young poeple develop their careers.
T
he building materials sector has committed to developing future talent with the launch of the Maddie Rose Foundation, the industry-led charity designed to support young people seeking rewarding careers across merchanting and manufacturing.
Officially unveiled at the Maddie Rose Yellow Tie Dinner on May 28, the charity aims to create meaningful opportunities for young people while helping employers address one of the sector’s biggest long-term challenges – attracting, developing and retaining talent. The Maddie Rose Foundation’s clear mission is to nurture talent, remove barriers to opportunity and provide practical support for young people who want to build careers within the industry. While the sector continues to grapple with skills shortages and an ageing workforce, the Foundation seeks to create stronger pathways into the profession and raise awareness of the wide number of opportunities available throughout the building materials supply chain.
Campaign evolution The Foundation builds on the success of the Maddie Rose Campaign, which was originally established as a lasting legacy to Maddie Rose Hollamby in partnership with the Construction Youth Trust. Over the past four years, the campaign has united businesses and individuals from across the sector around a shared goal of promoting careers in the industry and supporting young people entering the workforce.
Now, with the creation of the Maddie Rose Foundation, the initiative is entering a new phase, one that will enable it to expand its reach and deliver targeted programmes to support young people across the UK. To help them access those opportunities, the Foundation will provide a range of practical support measures. These include funding for training courses and professional qualifications, grants and bursaries, mentoring programmes, employability support, work experience placements and career insight initiatives designed to build confidence and awareness.
12
The Foundation will also work closely with merchants, manufacturers, suppliers and industry bodies to connect young people directly with employers and create clear pathways into employment.
Jamie Pierce, chair of the Maddie Rose Foundation, believes the charity has the potential to make a lasting difference both to young people and to the industry itself. “The Maddie Rose Foundation began life as the Maddie Rose Campaign, created to honour Maddie’s life and legacy, and her passion for promoting careers within the building materials sector and the wider built environment,” he said.
“Over the past four years, supported by an incredible steering group, partners and fundraisers, the campaign has raised more than £160,000 and inspired young people to explore careers within our industry. “We are now in a position to expand our activities and develop meaningful programmes to support the next generation of talent in our sector. We want to help young people gain new skills, build confidence and access clear pathways into stable, rewarding careers. “For employers, that means a stronger talent pipeline and improved recruitment and retention. For the industry, it means
greater resilience, innovation and a workforce equipped for the future.”
Pierce also thanked the many businesses and individuals who have supported the initiative from the start. “I would like to thank every individual and business that has supported us on this journey so far,” he said. “Your support is helping create opportunities that will genuinely change lives and help shape the future of our sector.”
Grant application
The Foundation is actively inviting applications for grants and bursaries from young people looking to further their careers within the sector. It also wants to expand the network of industry partners; with businesses are asked to sign up to a Commercial Partnership Agreement to help support future programmes.
The Maddie Rose Foundation is a long- term commitment by the industry to invest in people, develop future talent and ensure that ambitious young people have access to the support, guidance and opportunities they need to build successful careers. BMJ
Get in contact:
info@maddierosefoundation.org.uk www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2026
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
