In June LEAN attended the launch of Keystone at Blue Garage, a manufacturing, innovation and co-working hub in central Lewisham.
Posted: 27/07/2026
Category: Arts Partner, Lewisham Information
Developed by Renegade Production in partnership with Blue Garage and Christ the King Sixth Forms, Keystone aims to create stronger connections between young people, education providers, local businesses and the industries shaping Lewisham’s future.
The event introduced the Keystone pilot through presentations, a tour of Blue Garage and contributions from education, business and former students. Attendees heard from Christ the King representatives and an alumna about the importance of access to professional environments, as well as from business leaders on the value of work experience, internships and scholarships.
One of the key challenges highlighted during the event was the difficulty schools and colleges face in securing meaningful work experience. Although small businesses, start-ups, freelancers and sole traders often have valuable knowledge and professional experience to share, many lack the time, staffing and administrative capacity to organise placements independently. This means that a large part of the local business community can struggle to participate in supporting young people.
Keystone has been designed to bridge this gap. Piloted through Blue Garage, the initiative will coordinate employer encounters, workplace visits, industry insight days, mentoring, work-based learning and structured placements. By creating more practical and manageable ways for businesses to engage, it aims to broaden the range of professional experiences available to young people.
The launch also placed Keystone within the wider context of regeneration and economic development in Lewisham. As the borough continues to change, the initiative aims to ensure that local young people are not simply observers of that transformation, but are able to access the skills, networks and opportunities it creates.
Report by An Wei – Goldsmiths student and LEAN work experience placement summer 2026.
