European Social Fund in England

Construction craft tasters for women in Somerset

This was a Round 2 project under Measure 5.1 The aim was to engage women living in Somerset in taster courses which offer both a general introduction to construction craft and professional skills [e. g painting and decorating, carpentry, brickwork, surveying ] and clear information on progression routes to further training and employment via FE, CITB and/or Constructive Somerset.

The project objectives were to:

• provide taster courses at 2 college locations and at least 6 community locations in the county
• match the taster sessions with current and predicted future skill shortages in Somerset and provide information on progression routes to employment and formal training which will benefit the local economy
• encourage equality of opportunity and participation by lone parents, returners to work and coastal/rural learners by providing flexible funding to overcome barriers such as transport and childcare and by meeting learners' needs in terms of timing and location of courses
• work with members of the Constructive Somerset Partnership to recruit beneficiaries and facilitate progression routes via CITB, FE and Constructive Somerset
• raise awareness of training and employment opportunities in construction among women in Somerset

Recruitment was via referrals from Jobcentre Plus and Connexions and by direct response to targeted marketing at surgeries, health centres, supermarkets and other venues regularly used by women.