In an effort to address the shortage of electircians and encourage more females to enter the electrical industry, Diane Johnson, the Skills Ambassador ....of the ECA (Electrical Contractors Association) helped to set up the 'Wired For Success' scheme to encourage more women into the electrical sector.
Last year (2011) saw record numbers of unemployment amongst women. Unfortunately many of these women were on benefits due to lack of re-training opportunities following redundancy.
Ms Johnson wanted to set up a scheme where women could train around their other commitments such as childcare. The electrical industry seemed the best area to set such a scheme up to address the shortage of electricians within the industry at present. This means that the women on the scheme would qualify and gain work immediately as a qualified electrician.
The Wired for Success Scheme saw women who presently live in social housing provided by London and Quadrant enter a 2 year training scheme which sees them undertake classroom and on site experience in installing, testing and commissioning electrical installations in dwellings.
How were the women selected?
An open day was advertised encouraging women to attend an open day to find out more. The advertising was carried out via a leaflet drop to tenents of London and Quadrant homes. Twelve women were eventually selected from those who turned up to the open day.
The scheme attracted a large age range of women of between 27 and 51 years of age, and can boast a 0% drop out rate. Only one person was unable to do the course as her husband lost his job.
The women started on the scheme in August 2011 and when they complete the course next year expect to gain employment immediately as they will have the experience and skills necessary for the job.
What is the future
There are no plans to run this scheme, this was a pilot scheme. It is hoped Wired for Success will inspire other companies and industries to start up similar schemes.
Wired for Success was a blueprint to which others can work from.
There is some way to go before the electrical industry can say there is definite benefit from this type of scheme, only time will tell.