HUB South West has announced its Females into Construction course is set to return in a bid to tackle the lack of women in the Scottish construction sector.
Facilitated by New College Lanarkshire, the nine-week course supports participants as they find out more about the career opportunities available within the sector.
The course, which starts in April, has no formal entry requirements and is open to women over the age of 16. On offer is the opportunity to secure a National 5 qualification in construction crafts. The programme covers painting and decorating, masonry work, carpentry and joinery, and includes work placements, site visits and ambassador talks by partners Kier, Graham, Morrisons and Morgan Sindall.
Two participants from the course last year were Hollie McArthur and Helena Montague, who are both now doing construction-related courses at college. Hollie said, “I found the Females into Construction course to be a great experience. It is a good way to get into the construction industry. I thought the course was a good taster and it has really helped me on the City and Guilds Pre- Apprentice course I’m working on now.”
Helena added, “The Females into Construction course was good because of the mix of subjects and the variety of the work. It has helped me progress and I am very hopeful to find work in the industry and progress my studies at a higher level.”
Michael McBrearty, chief executive of hub South West, said the construction industry needs to embrace the whole of the potential workforce and attract top talent, regardless of gender. “The Females into Construction course has a key part to play in this process,” he explained. “It’s a fantastic win-win situation that benefits both the industry and young women looking to start out on a challenging and rewarding career.
“The statistics might seem to indicate otherwise, but construction is no longer just a ‘job for the boys’. The fact that the Females into Construction initiative has attracted support from prestigious contracting partners such as Kier, Graham, Morrisons and Morgan Sindall is testament to that.”
For more information, visit www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk/courses/construction/females-into-construction
