Guest Blogger - Hope Crabtree

When I graduated with a degree in Primary Education during the aftermath of COVID-19, I felt completely untethered. Our university experience had been shaped by lockdowns, online learning, and an ongoing sense of uncertainty. It was difficult to feel confident about stepping into the profession when we’d barely experienced it in full. Although I completed the course, I knew deep down that traditional classroom teaching wasn’t the path I wanted to take.

I vividly remember the questions from peers and tutors: ‘Have you applied for teaching jobs yet?’ Every time I was asked, I felt a pang of guilt. Deep down, I knew classroom teaching wasn’t right for me but saying that out loud felt like I was letting someone down. I had committed to a path, but the path no longer felt aligned. It took time, reflection, and a lot of self-questioning to accept that I hadn’t failed, I just had the opportunity to make a choice that felt right for me.

The turning point came when I started working in careers advice. I found a space where I could support others in making informed decisions, while also exploring what mattered to me. I developed programmes for young people, collaborated with employers, and worked across schools and colleges. I started to see that my degree wasn’t wasted — in fact, it was the foundation for everything I was building next.

Now, in my role as a Social Value Coordinator at VINCI Building, I work across construction projects to embed social value into the heart of what we do. While I didn’t come from a construction background, my experience in education and careers guidance has proven to be one of my biggest strengths. I bring an understanding of how to engage people, how to create inclusive opportunities, and how to design educational programmes that inspire.

I work closely with schools, colleges, charities, and community groups, delivering everything from career workshops to mentoring schemes, and helping young people and adults access real routes into employment. I also support community-led initiatives that focus on sustainability, wellbeing, and inclusion, ensuring the projects we deliver leave a positive, lasting legacy.

The work is practical, creative, and people-focused. I get to shape projects that matter and tell stories that demonstrate real impact. Although I’m not teaching in the traditional sense, I’m still using the core of what I learned — from how to communicate with young people, to designing structured learning experiences that help others thrive.

This journey hasn’t just been about finding the right job — it’s been about understanding what really matters to me, and how I want to contribute.

My message to you is: it might not be the path you imagined, but if it fills your days with purpose and pride, it’s probably the one that was meant for you all along.

Hope Crabtree