A partnership between Lendlease, a real estate business delivering urbanisation and sustainable development projects, and Our Newham Learning and Skills, has been recognised with the ‘Net Zero Hero’ Award at the Get the Nation Learning Awards this year. Lendlease was chosen for supporting Our Newham Learning and Skills to expand its curriculum in relation to digital, data, and green skills – sectors central to Newham’s economic future.
The Get the Nation Learning Awards are a high point of the Get the Nation Learning campaign, led by Learning and Work Institute and supported by over 100 organisations including Channel 4 and Make UK. The awards shine a light on people and organisations getting the nation learning and recognise examples of adult learning that support healthier futures, stronger communities, more opportunities, regional growth, and richer lives.
Lendlease collected its ‘Net Zero Hero’ Award, sponsored by NOCN, at the appropriately green Barbican Conservatory this week, the location for the Get the Nation Learning Awards this year. The awards panel chose Lendlease for their work in creating routes to employment for Newham learners and supporting Newham’s net zero goals at the same time. The organisation is an example to other employers for going beyond corporate social responsibility to fully embed skills development into the fabric of its projects. Learners, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with special educational needs and disabilities, are supported to achieve personal and professional goals through tailored programmes and supported internships, creating pathways to jobs. Learners gain insights into sustainable urban development, a crucial element of the Government’s plan to reduce the UK’s net emissions by 100% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. Reducing emissions through residential buildings is a key lever for this and Lendlease’s work as a real estate business was seen to show how this can be achieved through investment in people, skills and communities, supporting both national targets and Newham’s own Net Zero and ‘Fairer Newham’ strategies.
The Get the Nation Learning Campaign was launched in May 2025 and aims to make and win the case for lifelong learning. This week is Get the Nation Learning Week, an opportunity for the campaign’s supporters to promote the benefits of learning on economy and the society.
Andrea Ruckstuhl, Managing Director for Development in the UK and Italy at Lendlease, said:
“At Lendlease we believe that sustainable development is not just about buildings; it’s about people, skills, and opportunity. And this award reflects our commitment to embedding learning and inclusive employment pathways into the heart of regeneration. By working closely with Our Newham Learning and Skills, we’re helping to equip local communities with the green and digital skills they need to thrive in a net zero future. It’s a powerful example of how collaboration can drive both social impact and environmental progress.”
Graham Hasting-Evans, Chief Executive at NOCN, sponsors of the award, said:
“We’re thrilled that Lendlease has won the Net Zero Hero Award for its partnership with Our Newham Learning and Skills. This recognition highlights how collaborative efforts can build a future-ready workforce equipped with green skills. At NOCN Group, we’re investing in skill solutions that support the UK’s net zero ambitions, and this award shows the power of embedding skills development into sustainable urban projects. Lendlease’s approach, supporting learners from diverse backgrounds and aligning with Newham’s Net Zero and Fairer Newham strategies, is a model for how employers can create meaningful pathways into employment while driving environmental and social impact.”