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Categories: apprenticeships, education and skills, equality, jobs and work, NEETs, press releases, regional news: south of England
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Local girls get into builder gear at YWCA’s Skills Day

Young women try out non-traditional jobs at skills day

Young women from Dagenham donned their hard hats and grabbed their wrenches for a Skills Day at Building Craft's College London on 3^rd July.

The event was organised by SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering (BSE) and as part of YWCA's More than One Rung campaign to give young women from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to work their way off the bottom of the career ladder.

Michaela Yeaman, Kelly Forward and Sherelle Samuel-Bissick from YWCA Dagenham, got stuck into gritty jobs like fixing pipes, carpentering and wiring plugs at the event which was supported by British Gas, WISE and Bovis Lend Lease. Lesley Longstone, Director General for Young People at the Government's Department of Children, Schools and Families attended the event and joined in with the practical work.

Sherelle, 16, said: "It's brilliant, this day has totally changed my mind. Before, I wasn't sure what career I could have but now I can wire a plug, I feel I can do anything! You don't see many women in the construction industry, it's unfair because people think these are men's jobs when women can do them equally well."

Sally Copley, YWCA's Director of Policy, Research and Campaigns said: "This is a great opportunity for disadvantaged young women to see new, unthought-of job possibilities and to have a go for themselves! As SEEDA (South East England

Development Agency) has reported skills shortages in the construction and engineering industry in South East England, there is a big need for more women to join this sector."

Kevin Dowd, Operations Manager of Summit Skills said: "One of SummitSkills' goals is to position building services engineering as the sector of aspirational choice for new entrants at all levels and this includes introducing young women to the sector. SummitSkills is pleased to work with YWCA to create opportunities for girls to have a taste of what it is like to work in non-stereotypical roles."