Joyce gives young women the tools to get into construction

Local Assembly Member Joyce Watson AM will be presenting certificates and a tool box to young women students at Coleg Sir Gar, Carmarthenshire in a career event for women today, Monday 16th November.

Carmarthenshire County Council and Construction Youth Trust will also attend.

This follows the launch of Joyce Watson AM’s women and technology e-forum for women in Mid and West Wales - http://www.womeninconstruction.co.uk/

She launched the new website with staff and students at Coleg Sir Gar, Carmarthenshire recently, and the site is already getting a tremendous response.

JOYCE WATSON AM said:

“Around three quarters of working women in Wales are still found in just five occupations; ‘the five c' s’ – cleaning, catering, caring, cashiering and clerical.

“Despite more than 30 years of equality legislation, gender still plays a big part when it comes to the career choices people make. And while progressively more women have moved into professions like law, medicine and accountancy, there has been no similar movement into engineering, ICT and the skilled trades – the proportion of women working in construction is just 1%, for example.

“I hope the Women in Construction interactive website will be a useful tool for women considering starting a career in construction, and for those who want to share their experiences.

“Construction trades are not necessarily the first choice for many young women and this e-forum is aimed at providing information about local facilities, with links to local colleges and other support for young females looking to enter the construction industry. This will be a forum to share tips and views.

“You may wonder why a politician is so involved in this. The reason is because I am excited by the chances that construction offers women as a career choice. With a degree of flexibility that will suit women who want to juggle their work–life balance, increase their earning capacity and the availability of new training programmes designed and aimed at women in construction, the timing seems right for this e-forum to be launched.

“As we look to rebuild the economy, it is more important than ever that we invest in skills and provide people with a real opportunity to enter training and work, and challenge the entrenched gender bias that still exists in some sectors.

“In my work as an Assembly Member I visit lots of projects around Mid and West Wales and last year I met Rose Phillips of Gower, who is learning her plumbing skills at Coleg Sir Gar in Carmarthenshire. Rose is a bright young woman who has impressed everyone on her apprenticeship with Sainsbury Building Service Engineers.

“I brought Rose, her tutor, and her employers to the Assembly to meet Lifelong Learning Minister Jane Hutt. We had an excellent discussion about the work Coleg Sir Gar was doing, about what employers want from their apprentices, what Rose wanted from her course, and what Pembrokeshire College and the other Welsh colleges do, and that's where the idea for this e-forum came about.

“Swansea College, Coleg Powys, Coleg Ceredigion and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor quickly got involved, swapping ideas and sharing information about how best to support people coming into the industry.

“From there it grew, with Chwarae Teg, Construction Skills and Construction Youth Trust (CYT) all enthusiastically joining the project.

“This is a forum for all concerned in any aspect of the construction industry, as well as those wishing to join. It will be a focal point for people to share their ideas, ambitions, stories, experiences and generally keep in touch with others.

“I am certain that this is only the beginning, and I hope that this forum will build itself through its members and benefit everyone who goes on to use it.”

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