Our social infrastructure assets provide quality healthcare, housing and education. In addition, some of our projects have specific community programs focused on access to essential services, such as good quality drinking water. For example, in Colombia we ensured that three isolated communities were able to access the water system, delivered water filters to 160 families and eight rural schools and built and operated five water treatment plants.
- 270 hospital beds
- 730 units of housing for the elderly
- 804 bedrooms for students
- 3,500 people provided with water filters
- c.90m rail passengers
Infrastructure supports local employment in a number of ways: creating jobs, supporting local suppliers, and offering community programmes to develop locals’ skills. Our projects create jobs for the local community. At John Laing, we hire from communities surrounding projects wherever possible. For example, the North East Link PPP, the largest PPP in Australian history, will create 8,000 jobs including a target of more than 900 dedicated to priority jobseekers.
Ruta del Cacao, Colombia
The Ruta del Cacao road project has a team of 42 ESG experts, including a John Laing ESG Manager, to lead engagement with local communities, many of whom depend on the existing road network for their livelihoods. A seed capital fund supported the startup of local businesses, benefitting 52 families, 35 families received entrepreneurship training and two schools were expanded and relocated, offering better study areas and new sports facilities. Recently, John Laing also provided an air conditioning system for a school and has supported projects to provide access to drinking water to 118 families.
Pacifico 2, Colombia
Construction of the 136km dual carriageway created 17,000 jobs in Antioquia, with a local supply chain strategy supporting 40 businesses. John Laing has provided water filters to 34 families and six schools and a venue for farmers’ markets, conferences and other events. Marketing and entrepreneurship training have raised the incomes of 120 small businesses and street sellers along the road by 40 per cent, while 60 young people have received technical scholarships. In 2022 the project planted more than 30,000 trees, with John Laing colleagues planting further trees to help protect the dry forest.
John Laing Charitable Trust
The John Laing Charitable Trust is an independent charity established in 1962 to care for the welfare of former and current employees of the John Laing group of companies and to improve the lives of people in need. The Trust focuses grant making in the areas of homelessness, young people, skill and education, and community, supporting charitable work in the UK and overseas.
