Working with The Hill Group & The Guinness Partnership in Bristol

Women into Construction is working with The Hill Group and The Guinness Partnership to launch a pre-employment programme for women in Bristol, helping to address the gender imbalance in the construction workforce, which currently sees just 16% female representation. 

Working closely with Bristol’s Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) team, the project hopes to attract women keen on trying roles in construction, offering a five-week programme that will provide support with childcare and training costs to make the opportunity more accessible.

The pre-employment programme will include;

• Three weeks of construction-related and employability training, including CSCS cards, in partnership with The Restore Trust
• A 2-week practical, hands-on work experience placement on the impressive McArthur’s Yard in central Bristol
• 1-2-1 coaching and support from Women into Construction.

The work experience will include trades and on-site roles such as brickwork, plumbing, electrics and landscaping along with management shadowing opportunities in disciplines such as site management, design and technical co-ordination.

Women into Construction’s Strategic Partnerships and Communications Manager Shelley Lawrence says; “We are excited to be offering this programme to women in Bristol, which is a new region for WiC support, so that more women can try working in this creative and dynamic sector. Construction is an industry for all, and we are very proud to be working with inclusive partners The Hill Group, The Guinness Partnership, DWP Bristol and The Restore Trust to open up opportunities for local women.”

Executive Director at The Hill Group, Tom Hill said; “Now in our 24^th year in business, we remain acutely aware of the gender imbalance throughout our industry and at Hill we are working very hard to redress this issue.  We are delighted to continue our work with Women into Construction to facilitate this change.  Construction offers a varied, well paid and interesting career and I urge the women of Bristol to come and join this event to learn more.”

Catriona Simons, Group Chief Executive of The Guinness Partnership said; Our McArthurs Yard development will provide 142 new homes in Bristol, 50 per cent of which will be affordable, and through this programme will also provide training and work experience to support women interested in a career in construction. I am proud of Guinness’s continued support for women in maintenance and construction – we are committed to building a diverse workforce and a more balanced future for the sector. We look forward to working in partnership with Women into Construction and The Hill Group, together with DWP and The Restore Trust, on this programme in Bristol.”

Women interested in this exciting opportunity are invited to register to attend an information session at 11am on Wednesday 7th September at 101 Victoria Street, Bristol. At the event, they will learn more about the programme, meet the employers involved and hear from women already successfully working in the industry.

We can’t wait to head to Bristol!