A successful project to help support women working in the construction sector has won further funding to continue.

ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the industry, took part in the government funded Women and Work: Sector Pathways Initiative. In Phase 1, over 2,200 women were helped to access work related training and support initiatives in the construction industry – beating the target of 1,800.

Now ConstructionSkills is one of five SSCs selected to continue the programme for another three years. Funding for Phase 2 of the Women and Work: Sector Pathways Initiative will see £660,000 set aside for construction.

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The project aims to help get women into work in construction, but also to help women already working in the sector to get further training in order to develop their careers.

At the launch of Phase 2, Skills Minister David Lammy MP said: "Gender should be no barrier to a successful career. It's essential we provide extra support where it can do most good to help women overcome any barriers to recruitment or progression at work."

Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of ConstructionSkills, said: "Women and Work has given us the opportunity to invest in a wide range of entry and progression routes for women in the industry.

"We have worked with employers to provide health and safety and technical training, professional development and mentoring support for graduates. I am delighted that the programme has been extended as it will allow us to continue building on these positive outcomes."

The additional three years' worth of funding will allow the team to plan more strategically and to aim for a longer term impact. Key goals will be to not only improve recruitment of women, but to address retention and career progression issues.

Two companies that have already felt the benefit of Women and Work Project are Fusion 21 in Merseyside and Warden Construction in Preston.

(JM)