Housing association provides 'training experience to women'

Thursday 16th August 2007

Women in Birmingham and Solihull are getting a chance to try their hand as building and maintenance workers, thanks to a skills development initiative led by a local housing association.

Family Housing Association, one of Birmingham’s biggest housing associations, with around 2100 properties in inner city areas, has teamed up with the Learning and Skills Council’s EQUAL programme to provide a unique training experience to women who are looking for a new career move.

Jenny Dunstall, LSC coordinator of the EQUAL Agender project, said: "This project gives local women a chance to get on the job experience and train for a new career in an area of work that they may not have previously considered".

"The women will be working alongside skilled tradesmen who are responsible for carrying out a wide range of repair and maintenance work including everything from plastering to painting and decorating, plumbing and tiling. Such trades have failed to attract many female applicants in the past and this initiative aims to address this by giving unemployed women a chance to have go".

If they enjoy the experience, the women will receive support to help them get a place on a relevant training course where they can get the necessary qualifications and certificates.

Some lucky trainees may also be offered a full or part-time job with Family Housing, which is actively seeking to recruit new workers for its direct labour team.

Manny Jaspal, Employment and Training Manager (seconded by Pertemps People Development Group) at Family Housing Association, said "We want to promote diversity and expand our team of direct labour workers to look after our properties in Birmingham. This project means we can create our own recruitment pool. At the same time, the women benefit from a chance to work alongside skilled workers and so far we have received a high level of interest".

Teresa Craythorne was the first female operative to enter Family’s Direct Labour Organisation a year ago and has proven to be a real success and an excellent contribution to the team.

She said: "I feel I have become more and more confident in the work itself and I notice that when I enter a property female tenants feel a lot more at ease when they see me, especially as some of them have had difficult times and can be a little apprehensive to be in a house alone with the male operatives".

Women can choose to take part in the three month project on a paid or unpaid basis and this is agreed with them individually, taking into account their personal circumstances.

By September, it is hoped that the majority of the women will either be offered a job or have a chance to take their skills development to the next stage by training for a relevant NVQ Level 2 at a local further education college.

Backed by the LSC’s European Social Fund (ESF) programme, this EQUAL programme initiative is taking place as part of the local Agender project, which aims to tackle stereotypes in the workplace and encourage people to take-up non-traditional roles.

Posted by Ha for Family Housing Association (Birmingham) Ltd.