Case Study: Occupational Segregation - Ridgemond Training

Ridgemond Training offers a range of programmes to attract women and girls into the construction industry. These include:

• 3 week taster programmes on Bricklaying, Carpentry and Joinery, and Painting and Decorating to encourage young mums to consider this as a possible future trade. The group size is for 12 women, and they are able to practice elements from recognised construction qualifications.
• A partnership programme with an organisation called CEMENT. The aim is to equip women who are already training or trained in the construction industry with the skills to run a small business and market themselves, particularly to other women needing construction work undertaken.
• A women-only course, advertised in local papers and to women’s groups, to challenge gender segregation and stereotyping. The course includes evening taster sessions to raise awareness of opportunities in the wet trades, and also offers sessions on bricklaying, carpentry, painting and decorating.

Attending events at girls schools to promote the industry to year 10 and 11 students. Girls already in apprenticeship training showcase their work and answer questions on what the trade is really like and their own ambitions.

Of the 12 women who took the first course, 10 completed units at level 1 in the multi craft City & Guilds qualification. 8 of these will be enrolling on a level 2 qualification in construction, some specialising in a trade area such as brick, carpentry and joinery or painting and decorating, and some mixing the trade areas.

There has been sufficient recommendation by word of mouth for Ridgemond Training to set up another introductory course. The company has also identified business role models with whom they will explore how to continue raising the profile of the industry as a suitable career for women.

There has been an increase in the numbers of women showing an interest in the less popular areas of carpentry and joinery and bricklaying (painting and decorating have always been seen as the most accessible of the trade areas for women). Previously there had been no female learners in carpentry, now there are 3 working as apprentices and the company has recruited 2 female school learners into the brick trades.