The ConstructHER programme is a recent initiative designed to attract female high school students in Glasgow to the construction sector.
- Supported by Developing the Young Workforce and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, this programme offers insights into various construction careers.
- The initiative allows female students to visit live construction sites, providing hands-on experience.
- Successfully completing participants can fast-track their way into apprenticeships with Graham.
- The programme aligns with efforts to address gender imbalance within the construction industry.
Graham Building has introduced an innovative programme called ConstructHER, specifically tailored to engage and encourage female students from Glasgow to consider careers in engineering and construction. The programme targets high school students in S5 and S6, which typically includes those aged 16 and 17, providing them with a unique opportunity to explore a traditionally male-dominated field.
This initiative receives backing from both Developing the Young Workforce and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, highlighting a robust local support network. Applications for the programme are now open, with selected participants beginning a comprehensive six-month course in October 2024. The course itinerary is extensive, including diverse locations such as live construction sites within the city, as well as local universities and colleges.
The ConstructHER programme is explicitly designed to confront and reduce the longstanding gender imbalance prevalent in the construction sector. Female students who join and complete the programme will have a fast-tracked option to apply for full-time apprenticeships with Graham. These apprenticeships cover various critical roles such as engineering, design management, planning, quantity surveying, administration, and document control.
Debbie Rutherford, Graham’s head of social impact and support services, expressed pride in launching ConstructHER. She noted, “We’re proud to launch our ConstructHER programme which is designed to show the breadth of job opportunities available in the construction sector.” She emphasised the collaborative effort with local schools aims to inspire a new generation of female professionals in construction, a career path they might not have previously considered.
Participants will have the chance to experience real-world construction projects, such as the purpose-built student accommodation on Bath Street. This exposure helps illustrate how new developments shape the cityscape of Glasgow, offering students a tangible insight into their potential future careers.
Alison McRae, a senior director at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, praised the initiative as fantastic, noting, “ConstructHER is a fantastic initiative that will encourage female pupils to learn more about the broad range of roles available in the construction industry.” She reinforced the programme’s alignment with the ethos of inspiring young people to acquire essential skills and knowledge for successful career transitions.
Further boosting its workforce, Graham plans to welcome 15 new apprentices into its Building North division this year. This intake includes various roles such as quantity surveyors, design managers, site administrators, planners, and site engineers.
Coinciding with ConstructHER’s roll-out is the 2024 edition of the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering conference. This event celebrates the significant contributions of female engineers and construction professionals. Hosted in London, the conference acknowledges nominees from leading organisations, further emphasising the sector’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The ConstructHER initiative represents a progressive step towards achieving gender parity within the construction industry.
