Whilst the construction sector has experienced significant growth in the past few years, women continue to be under-represented and females still make up a very small proportion of the workforce. The 'Jobs 4 the Girls' Project is funded by the European Social Fund through the Learning and Skills Council and is run by Oxford Women's Training at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College. The Project, which began last June and will continue to July 2008, presents an opportunity to both expand the workforce as well as to widen participation and address the current gender imbalance.

Leadbitter are extremely pleased to be working with the 'Jobs 4 the Girls' Project, supporting the Project by offering placements to the learners, which is a central and important part of the Project. Learner Helen Hehir completed her work experience placement with us, spending time with Roy Sutton, Site Manager at our Didcot Girls School scheme. Helen commented on the course: “It was an excellent course and an opportunity that wouldn't have been open to me 25 years ago. I got a real overview of construction including quantity surveying and project management.”

To date, 18 women have successfully undertaken work experience placements. These placements followed the two-day a week, six weeks, basic training programme in Oxford and Women Builders in Milton Keynes. Overall 29 women completed the basic training which included basic woodwork skills, second fix joinery, painting and decorating, kitchen fitting, tiling and Health and Safety.

The Project offers work experience leading to potential jobs and registers beneficiaries for NVQ Level 2, 3 or 4 qualification. Objectives include registering more than 50 women onto NVQs, helping at least 50 women into work experience placements, and assisting at least 40 women to secure jobs in the construction industry.