CONSTRUCTION and infrastructure-focused partnership hub South West has hailed a course aimed at getting women into construction as “highly successful”.
In partnership with main contracting partners Kier, Graham, Morrison and Morgan Sindall, hub South West supported the Women into Construction course, which was facilitated by New College Lanarkshire.
The eight-week introductory course, which had no formal entry requirements, was open to young females and provided a National 5 qualification in Construction Crafts. The successful students can now progress to pre-apprenticeships or move into a professional career route at Higher National Certificate level.
The course included painting and decorating, masonry work, carpentry and joinery as well as live site and design office visits, ambassador talks, CSCS-specific safety training and work placements. Students also had the opportunity to visit sites managed by the supporting contractors, where they observed a variety of construction roles.
Margaret Milton, community benefits co-ordinator at hub South West commented, “As an organisation which actively promotes the ethical and sustainable development of the construction industry, hub South West has been pushing hard to see a significant rise in the numbers of young women realising the fantastic career opportunities ahead of them within what has been, traditionally, a male-dominated industry.
“The course caught the young women’s interest from the start. They quickly formed a collegiate, supportive environment where each participated fully in their efforts to find out more about the career opportunities available to them and I’m proud to have taken part.”
Michael McBrearty, chief executive of hub South West added, “Our continuing drive to show young females the possibilities of a career in construction is an aspect of hub South West’s work I take pride in. It’s important that young people, regardless of gender, see the bright future they can have through a career in construction.”
