From hospitality to formwork: Emille's story at Ferndale Park
Posted 23 September 2026
Emille spent years supervising in hospitality before he swapped it for a hard hat. Now 25, he's working as an apprentice in formwork with Careys at Ferndale Park, a Populo scheme on a 1.4 hectare brownfield site near Cyprus DLR station, delivered for Newham Council with our construction partner The Hill Group.
Emille has lived in Newham for 15 years, so the development is close to his heart: "It's a good way to provide not so well-off families with somewhere to live that isn't breaking their bank, while allowing them to also live a life at the same time," he says.
The finished scheme will bring 211 new homes across six buildings, ranging from five to nine storeys, alongside 5,500 square metres of green space. Family living has been built in from the start too, with 84 three-bedroom apartments, 25 of them affordable, and 38% of all homes at social rent.
That focus on who benefits runs through the build as well as the finished homes. Populo holds its own social value commitments, and expects the same from its contractors, so schemes like Ferndale Park are set up to pay back to the local community. Emille's apprenticeship, arranged through Our Newham Work, is one part of that. "It was something new and different that I was open to trying, that I knew would open a new and improved avenue for me in life," he says.
The work itself doesn't leave room for error. Emille erects the forms that concrete is eventually poured into, working closely with steel fixers and site engineers to get it right the first time. "Preparation, hard work and quality control are essential and non-negotiable."
Ask him what he'll feel when Ferndale Park is finished, and there's no hesitation. "I had a part to play in what is now a standing structure soon to house families." Somewhere those families will build a life, thanks in part to someone who already calls Newham home.
Working with Hill as the main contractor and Newham Council, Populo is helping more local people access apprenticeships like Emille's and build a genuine future in the industry. It's a partnership that gives residents the skills to thrive alongside the new homes and neighbourhoods being delivered around them.
Learn more about employment support in Newham via Our Newham Work: https://ournewham.org/work/
Search and apply for apprenticeships across England:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship