Discover the wealth of opportunities for women in trades at LiveWest taster day – 8th September 2021
Category: Events
Publish date: 03/09/2021
About LiveWest
LiveWest provides over 38,000 homes to over 80,000 people throughout the South West, from Gloucestershire to the Isles of Scilly. LiveWest has plans to build 6,000 homes in the area over the next five years, developing new homes of all tenures including low-cost rent and sale, market rent and sale, and a range of supported housing and intermediate housing products creating choice and flexibility. As well as developing new homes, LiveWest continues to invest in existing properties and communities. Through the stability of good housing, we place better living for better lives at the centre of our mission both today and for generations to come. At LiveWest we believe in a home for everyone.
LiveWest is running a taster day on 8th September at South Devon College, Paignton, to help women decide if a career in a trade might be for them. The college’s tutors and LiveWest tradespeople will help attendees practise various activities such as soldering pipes and building a wall.
The event will be open to women of all ages and doesn’t require any previous experience. Both LiveWest customers and members of the wider community will gain an insight into several trades and hopefully kick-start a career in the housing sector.
Attendees of the taster day will also be able to learn more about LiveWest’s apprenticeship programme, which prepares people to enter the skilled trade industry.
Liane Sheppard, Director of Property Services for LiveWest, said:
“Women are not well represented in skilled trades and we want to address that by giving them opportunities at LiveWest. We have some great female role models already working across our trades, but we want more. We want to empower more women to pursue a trades career. The taster day will be a relaxed and fun insight into a number of trades and the chance to have a go to see if you like what’s on offer. What we’ve found in the past is that if females are empowered to try out these trades, the results can be phenomenal. LiveWest is committed to welcoming female colleagues to our trades and this could be the start of an exciting journey for those interested in launching or changing their careers.”
Following the taster day LiveWest will be recruiting several apprentices in a range of trades across the organisation.
Tracy Perkin is a Gas Engineer at LiveWest having embarked upon a career change at the age of 40. She applied for an apprenticeship 18 months ago and has thrived ever since.
Plymouth-based Tracy said:
“I’m in the second year of my apprenticeship and it’s the best thing that could have happened to me. It has literally changed my life, and it’s all thanks to LiveWest for believing in me and giving me the platform to show that I can do this. Our customers are great, and I get lots of comments about how fantastic it is that a woman has come to look at their boiler. What I hope it will do is make people think and consider a career path regardless of gender and age.”
Tracy encourages fellow females to have a go at the taster day to see if a trades career is the right path for them, adding:
“I’m a practical person, so the best way for me to learn is have a go at things, and I’ve already learnt so much! If you’re not a classroom person, then on the job training is an excellent way to learn.”
If you’re interested in attending the taster day, please click here.
For more information on LiveWest, please visit our Career Transition Partnership (CTP) Employer Focus Page