CIOB to rescue Carillion students

Earlier this month Building revealed that Carillion had scrapped its support for the undergraduates, blaming the “current economic climate”.

Carillion’s move could send a dangerous message to other companies

CIOB spokesperson

As well as losing the £1,500 annual grant they were promised by the contractor, the students were left without a work placement, which is a compulsory requirement for graduation.

The CIOB has promised to try to find placements for as many of the students as possible at its member firms, and prevent the “knock-on effect” of other firms axing programmes.

A CIOB spokesperson said: “This could send a dangerous message to other companies to call into question their own sponsorship programmes. It could potentially have a knock-on effect. If this sort of thing happens more often, the industry might start to increasingly feel it’s the norm.”

If other students are affected by contractors’ cutbacks, the CIOB will try to help them too, it said.

The spokesperson continued: “We will contact all of the contractors, consultancies and training partnerships - that’s 700 organisations - and put them in contact with the students [affected by the Carillion cancellation] and universities to see if they can help out and offer alternative work placements.

“These are difficult times, but it is important that the industry keeps hold of the talent we have got. It’s a shame to lose people whose interest we have already captured.”

One of the affected students, who asked not to be named, said: “This is fantastic. I am so pleased to hear someone wants to help us, and so soon too. Hopefully this will mean I can go back to finish my course as planned.”