Encouraging Women in Construction
Last week we welcomed students from James Allen’s Girls’ School (years 10 & 12) to our site at Brockwell Hall to hear about careers in construction and discover the many opportunities available to women in this sector. During a tour of the site, students could see first-hand how the restoration of this Grade II* listed building is progressing.
Our Social Value Coordinator, Carol Kirby, joined by Emily Pickering, one of our degree apprenticeship management trainees (pursuing a career in estimating), highlighted the wide range of existing and emerging careers in construction from planning through to completion, considerations in terms of the environment and social responsibility, skills/workforce shortages and different entry routes. They also highlighted the changes that are taking place as more females join the workforce (e.g. workwear and safety clothing designed to fit women, flexible working hours etc).
“Personally I thought your introductory talk was excellent; really informative, questioning stereotypes and preconceived ideas. It was great to see the construction site, and Emily was a real bonus – having her talk to the students about her progression route was an eye-opener for some of the students. We’ve talked to students about Apprenticeships, but to have an actual person to address direct questions is such an important part of careers education…”
Lara Brookes, Head of Careers
It’s always great to receive positive feedback from the students who experience these talks. Their comments are testament to how important these careers events are in encouraging women into the industry:
This trip was very informative and such a great experience. It really enlightened me about all the different work involved in construction. Everyone on the site was very friendly and I was very happy that they let us go inside the building to see the work happening inside. Construction is now definitely on my list of possible future careers.
Rebecca, Year 12
Attending this trip was invaluable because of the further insight I gained into the world of construction. Learning that there are so many different pathways you can take in this industry was very helpful, and it was interesting to hear about the experience of an apprenticeship student on the site. Touring the construction site was exciting, and learning about how the workers stored decorative elements of old buildings to preserve them made clear how meticulous the construction processes can be.
Bititi, Year 12
