APPENDIX 4
Memorandum by CITB-ConstructionSkills
Thank you for giving CITB-ConstructionSkills
(CITB-CS) the opportunity to offer information on what we are
doing to address the problem of the gender imbalance in the construction
industry. I must start off by saying that the occupational segregation/gender
imbalance is not an issue that can be tackled by CITB-CS alone.
It requires the efforts of all of the industry's partners and
stake holders to include government, employers, employer groups,
federations, and educational institutions.
The under-representation of women in the construction
industry has been a priority for CITB-CS for a number of years
and we have many on-going initiatives to address this. Below is
a summary of activities that have been or are currently being
undertaken:
1. We have set national and local targets
for female recruits for work trials and job outcomes.
2. The "Step Into Construction Programme"
(STEP) which provides incentives to employers to trial job ready
females candidates.
3. Positive action projects geared to finding
female candidates for 2005.
4. Female targets for our Construction Ambassador
Scheme, and for the Graduate Scholarship programme development.
5. Diversity research on the supply/demand
of diverse and on-diverse workforce over the next 10-15 years,
plus business case for diversity, planned for October 2005-March
2006. Government and other partners engaged, including Women and
Equality Unit which is responsible for responding to the EOC General
Formal Investigation Report.
6. EOC "Know Your Place" campaign
signposting to the ConstructionSkills website, as is the DTI funded
National Resource Centre for Women in Science Engineering and
Technology.
7. The National Construction College (NCC)
is developing a diverse recruitment programme for 2005. Female
trainees are mentored, and all apprentices go through a Diversity
and Equality Workshop. NCC is developing diverse recruitment modules
for its supervisory and management courses.
8. Our Marketing and Communications directorate
designed and launched "Construction Go For It", a resource
for Guide Leaders. We have also produced a series of case studies
from employers on the business benefits of employing a diverse
workforce as a follow-up to our successful "Positive Image
Campaign".
9. Partnership programmes are in development
with Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), Agenda, and the
Construction Industry Trust for Youth (CITY).
10. NQT Teacher Training Pack and INSET Professional
Development Project challenges gender stereotypes in construction.
11. Three action public procurement research
initiatives in which we are a partner due to report quarter 1,
2005. Recruitment of a diverse workforce a theme for each one:
(a) Sustainable Training for Sustainable Communities
with the Housing Forum of Construction Excellence.
(b) Welsh Assembly Procurement Initiative.
(c) Scottish Executive Community Benefit in
Procurement.
12. Use of images of females in our careers
literature, campaigns and PR.
22 February 2005
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