From Prince to King: UK’s new monarch breaking down barriers

King Charles III: Construction and the Coronation

May marks the seminal and blue riband event in the 2023 UK calendar as we prepare for the long-awaited coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
The country will serenade our soon-to-be-sovereign when the longest serving heir apparent in British history is officially crowned at Westminster on 6 May.

But for all the glitz and the glamour associated with the passing of the baton, our new monarch has strong links with the humble roots of the construction industry.

Building careers in construction

The King has, of course, been the synonymous figurehead of the Prince’s Trust, which he himself set up in 1976 as the then Prince of Wales. The Trust has transformed the lives of over 100,000 vulnerable and troubled young people, creating jobs and entrepreneurships in virtually every major industry.

Following in the footsteps of his late mother’s legacy, much of the new King’s life and work puts the next generation at the forefront.

The Prince’s Trust continues its work to provide access to opportunities in the sector for young people across the UK. Since its inception, almost 10,000 young people have broken through in an industry where 82% of workers are over 40. Many of the Trust’s charity partners have become key players in the construction world with industry giant Balfour Beatty at the forefront of the sector’s growth.

Since 2010, Balfour Beatty has raised over £2.5m for the Prince’s Trust through activities such as the Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle bike ride. In a further nod to their regal links, the King’s sister Princess Anne is patron WISE (Women in Science, Technology and Engineering) – one of Balfour Beatty’s main partners.

Meanwhile, the Construction Youth Trust continues to provide a pathway for young people – particularly those from low income and deprived areas – to break down those barriers and achieve their dreams. Partnering with local schools and industry experts, the CYT provides training courses and employability opportunities in warehouses and on construction sites throughout the country.

The Trust also supports the annual Get into Construction programme for young offenders who are not in work with the aim of making them employable in the industry.

Paving the way

The sovereign’s links to the construction world stretch far beyond his charity endeavours.

King Charles III has a keen interest in architecture and, before he became monarch, was not afraid to make his opinions known.
His 1989 book ‘A Vision of Britain’ strongly criticised modernist architecture in favour of more traditional methods. Sensing an opportunity to bring his ideas to fruition – Poundbury was born.
An experimental urban development on the fringes of Dorchester, King Charles III quite literally paved the way for a new era with an urban extension to the ancient market town.
He laid the first stone in 1993 and has continued to help fund the development and construction of Poundbury ever since. Completion is expected within the next two years with his  experimental town to provide a lasting legacy to the nation.

All of us here at SafeSite Facilities wishes His Majesty the King all the best in a role he has waited his whole life for.