Morgan Sindall Property Services Delivers Immersive Work Experience Programme for St Albans Students

Last week, Morgan Sindall Property Services (MSPS) delivered an immersive weeklong work experience programme for students from Oaklands College, in collaboration with St Albans District Council.

The week-long initiative gave 80 students a hands-on opportunity to step into the world of contract bidding, working in teams to develop a full mock proposal for a future council repairs and maintenance contract. The challenge required them to consider real-world issues such as social value, sustainability, finance, marketing, and community impact—mirroring the process our own teams go through when tendering for work.

As part of the program, students attended a series of expert-led sessions and workshops covering tender writing and bid strategy, sustainability and retrofit, marketing and communications, and finance and social value reporting, as well as CV writing and employability workshops, along with guest speakers from Morgan Sindall Construction and apprentices.

The week culminated in final presentations, where student teams pitched their proposals to a panel of judges from Oaklands College, St Albans District Council and MSPS. The standard of work was exceptional, showcasing creativity, insight, and a clear understanding of how to drive value through public contracts.

The winning team, ‘Team Elevate’, provided a thoughtful and creative bid focused on support for survivors of domestic abuse, inclusivity, and youth groups. They also impressed the judges with brilliant mock-ups of social media assets and initiatives like mould reduction solutions and energy advice for residents.

District Councillor, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community, Jacqui Taylor said: “It was a pleasure to be part of the panel and see the passion, creativity, and confidence the students brought to their final presentations. Work experience programmes like this are so important- they give young people the chance to explore new opportunities and build long term skills, and it’s great to see them learning about the importance of social value, and how important it is to us here at St Albans District Council. It’s fantastic to see Morgan Sindall Property Services working with Oaklands College to support local talent and invest in our community’s future.”

Maria Alexandru, Business Finance Management student at Oaklands College said: “I am so pleased to announce that me and my team won the Morgan Sindall Property Services’ challenge. I was so excited to meet representatives from the council, MSPS and others involved. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside the MSPS Social Value team, I’ve enjoyed every minute of this experience thank you for making this experience so memorable.”

Ravin Anenden, Head of Careers and Work Experience at Oaklands College said: “Our partnership with Morgan Sindall Property Services is giving students valuable hands-on experience that brings their learning to life. This programme is helping them develop real skills, grow in confidence, and better understand the career paths available to them, and it’s great to hear it first hand from industry professionals. It’s a powerful example of what can be achieved when education and the property sector work together to invest in future talent.”

We are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for young people. This programme is a great example of how industry, education and local government can come together to inspire future careers, build confidence, and deliver real social value.

For more information, please contact Communications@morgansindall.com