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It's a 'Woman's' World!

Learning carpentry. (click image to enlarge)

Females from Penrice School experienced a number of construction and engineering taster sessions at Cornwall College St Austell this week to encourage more girls into the traditionally male dominated area.

Twenty 14 and 15 year olds interested in finding out more about careers in construction and engineering spent a day getting hands on experience and finding out more about the opportunities available to them in these trades.

The day tied in nicely with the forthcoming International Women’s Day (March 8th) and it’s 2010 theme of ‘Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all’ and was a great chance to challenge gender preconceptions and prove to the females involved that they can do whatever they want.

Teresa Lawrance, South Restormel Consortium Coordinator, said: “Women have many useful skills which would be of benefit to these industries. We hope that by giving these students an opportunity to experience different things they will be encouraged to consider roles in this male dominated environment, before they decide on their career path.”

Student, Lauren Evans, who chose the carpentry taster, said: “We made some wood joints and did some painting. It was fun and great to actually get to do it ourselves instead of watching someone else. It has made me consider doing a practical trade.”

“It was really good to use the Computer Aided Design (CAD) programme, I feel I have learnt a lot and experienced new things that I wouldn’t normally have thought about,” added Rachel Roberts, who tried the engineering taster.

The project was developed by The South Restormel Consortium supported by The South West Gender Equality project funded by DCSF. And it wasn’t just females involved; a group of male students from Penrice School went up to Cornwall College Saltash to experience a hair and beauty taster.

Dave Linnell OBE, Principal of Cornwall College, said: “Nowadays there are so many options available to youngsters that gender shouldn’t be a factor that decides which course is best. Our technology faculty has state-of-the-art facilities and this was a great opportunity for the students to experience new things first hand and realise that absolutely everything is available for them to take advantage of in which ever industry they choose.”

Anybody interested in Construction and Engineering courses available at Cornwall College or for further information on other courses available please contact the College on 0845 22 32 567.

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