Cruden has begun work on site at the former Sharks Mouth pub on Bank Street, supporting North Lanarkshire Council’s regeneration plans to deliver much-needed new homes for the local community.

The development will transform the vacant site into 16 high-quality, energy-efficient homes for social rent and supported accommodation, helping meet housing needs while contributing to the ongoing regeneration of Coatbridge town centre. 

Ahead of construction starting, Cruden has delivered a series of community benefit initiatives with pupils at Coatbridge High School, aimed at inspiring the next generation to explore careers in construction and the built environment.

This included three STEM-focused measurement workshops with the school’s maths classes to demonstrate how maths applies in real working environments on construction sites.

Cruden also supported the school’s careers day as well as leading a careers advice session and separate CV writing and interview skills workshops. Most recently Cruden hosted a ‘Meet the Apprentice’ session where pupils had the opportunity to hear directly from those in early stages of their careers in the industry.

These sessions helped pupils understand the practical use of classroom learning and gain insight from Cruden into the wide range of roles available across the construction sector, from trades and apprenticeships to professional and technical careers.

Michael Palethorpe, production & community benefit manager at Cruden, said: “Delivering community benefits is a central part of how we approach every project. While the new homes at Bank Street will provide much-needed affordable housing locally, it’s equally important that the development creates meaningful opportunities for the community while construction is underway.

“Our engagement with pupils at Coatbridge High School over recent months has been a fantastic opportunity to show how subjects like maths connect directly to real careers in construction. By giving young people practical insight into the industry and the different pathways available, we hope to inspire the next generation to consider careers in the sector.”

Anna Cairney, DYW programme executive for Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire, said: “Positive employer engagement is vital in delivering our mission to give young people meaningful, first-hand experience of the world of work while still at school. The range of workshops and activities delivered by Cruden at Coatbridge High School is a strong example of the impact that sustained engagement can achieve.

“These sessions have provided pupils with valuable insight into how their learning is applied in real-world careers, particularly in areas such as problem-solving, measurement, and technical skills. Hearing directly from apprentices and construction professionals has helped bring classroom learning to life and encouraged pupils to consider a wide range of future career pathways.”

A spokesperson from North Lanarkshire Council added: “This development will transform a vacant town centre site into high-quality homes for local people while supporting the continued regeneration of Coatbridge.

“As well as delivering much-needed housing, it is encouraging to see Cruden engaging with local young people through workshops and careers advice that highlight the wide range of opportunities available within the construction industry.”