Construction jobs drive for women

Joyce Watson with Kirsty Proctor, Jiraporn Klinhom and Katie Henton

A drive is under way to encourage more women in mid and west Wales to enter occupations usually dominated by men.

Local Labour AM Joyce Watson has set up an online forum, Women in Construction, in collaboration with colleges across the region.

She said about 75% of working women in Wales were found in sectors such as cleaning, catering and caring.

The forum is designed for women already working in the construction industry and those wishing to join it.

Ms Watson said the idea came from a meeting involving two female plumbing students, Amie Grover and Rose Phillips, their tutors and Education Minister Jane Hutt.

She explained: "We had an excellent discussion about the work Coleg Sir Gar and Pembrokeshire College were doing, about what employers want from their apprentices, what Amie and Rose wanted from their courses, and what 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, Construction Youth Trust (CYT), Summit Skills, Careers Wales, WISE, The Royal Academy of Engineering, NAWIC and UCATT 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."