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New Skills Minister visits refurbishment site to see diversity in practice

By TJ (02-08-2007)
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Learning and Development News - New Skills Minister visits refurbishment site to see diversity in practice

David Lammy, the newly appointed Skills Minister, visited a Kier Building Maintenance site yesterday to see diverse recruitment in practice.
 
The visit was held as part of the wider promotion of ‘Women & Work’ – a Government-funded programme aimed at testing new recruitment and career opportunities for 10,000 women over two years in sectors where there are skills gaps and where women are under-represented. ConstructionSkills was one of the first organisations to secure funding for its Women & Work proposal.
 
As part of the programme, ConstructionSkills is supporting the development of 10 women through Islington-based Kier Building Maintenance. They include Administrators, Apprentice Plumbers and Surveyors, and are benefiting from the Women & Work programme through detailed individual training and development programmes to help increase their skills. David Lammy spent time at the site discussing how the women entered construction and how they were progressing.
 
ConstructionSkills is working with a wide number of employers on Women & Work, providing matched funding to a number of development activities including:

  • Training towards NVQ accreditation and CSCS certification
  • Health and Safety Training to Administrative staff
  • Technical training e.g. CIOB Site Management to cleaning and other support services supervisors to offer a way into supervision
  • Development for professional staff such as surveyors
  • Mentoring support to Graduates to secure sustainable employment opportunities.

David Lammy MP said: “We are investing £10m to address the skills gender imbalance. It's about getting a better deal for women and for all of us, as this has the potential to bring a greater rate of return to our economy and to our society as a whole.”
 
Karren Brady, boss of newly promoted Premiership League Club Birmingham FC, joined the national call for women to take up the challenge.
 
She said: “It is crucial that we challenge traditional perceptions and break down the barriers to women advancing in non-traditional roles. According to research two thirds of women work in only 12 occupational areas – mainly cleaning, catering, clerical, retail, caring and first level management. But women are the hidden asset in ambitious companies looking to increase productivity. Working with Sector Skills Councils to unlock the potential of women in the labour market could be worth between £15 and £23 billion to the UK economy. Initiatives such as Women & Work are much needed to ensure that women progress through the ranks.”

Image: Skills Minister David Lammy MP, Adrian Fisher, Karren Brady.

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