“A lot of them want to work in construction and they don’t realise how vast that is, how many different roles there are, whether they work mobile, on their own or for a small company, or for massive developments like this.”

Paige Crosby, careers lead at Newhaven School in Greenwich, was accompanying a group of 15 and 16-year-olds on a trip to Canary Wharf Group’s Wood Wharf site, which will eventually deliver 3,600 homes along with 2,500,000sq ft of commercial space, 266,000sq ft of retail area and 290,00sq ft of open space.

The visit by the year 11 pupils, along with other teenagers and construction industry professionals, was part of Build UK’s Open Doors event, which aims to raise awareness among younger people and the wider public about possible career paths in construction. It introduces them to building sites and projects.