黑洞社区

The Electrical Contractors鈥� Association (ECA) has launched a campaign to overcome the chronic under-representation of women in the electrical contracting sector.

Former ECA president Diane Johnson 鈥� who is spearheading the campaign 鈥� told 黑洞社区 just 0.14% of the electricians are women.

The 鈥榃ired for Success鈥� campaign 鈥� backed by housing association L&Q and contractors Axis, Mullalley and Smith & Byford 鈥� will provide women with a tailored two-year training course.

The initiative is targeted at disadvantaged women and will initially train up 12 long-term unemployed L&Q residents.

Launching the campaign, Johnson said: 鈥淲e need to get women into the industry. This training will give these women a skill for life 鈥� we are currently neglecting people.鈥�

Participant Julie Dickman said she had been unemployed for 12 years prior to joining the 鈥榃ired for Success鈥� initiative.

Dickman said: 鈥淢ost of my family work in the building trades 鈥� I鈥檝e always been interested and I wish we鈥檇 had this scheme when I was younger.

鈥淲hen you鈥檝e been unemployed for 12 years you lose a lot of confidence, but I鈥檓 really enjoying being involved in this scheme.鈥�

The scheme will give women a qualification in domestic installation. It is tailored to provide flexible training for women that fits around other responsibilities 鈥� L&Q is paying the womens鈥� childcare costs.