Jobs for the Girls Bursary Scheme Get more Women in to Electrical Industry

gazza — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 07:20:26 +0000

gazza Fri, 12/10/2018

NICEIC has been helping more women into the electrical industry through its Jobs for the Girls Bursary Scheme. The scheme offers grants to women already working in the industry or looking to get a helping hand at the start of their career. It is open to females of all ages and designed to cover training or other associated costs up to a maximum of £500.

One of those who benefited from a bursary was 40-year-old Amanda Pugh from Buckinghamshire. She used the funding to set up a website for her business Amanda Electrics.

“I was just starting out on my own and although I had help with some of the training, and was fortunate to have a good amount of tools I still had to pay for additional courses, books, registration, insurance, website fees, business cards, work clothing and other tools.

“The set up costs were more than I anticipated but the bursary from the NICEIC helped to offset some of these costs and meant I was able to start making money from my work sooner.”

Coleen Everitt, runs Alto Electrical in Lincolnshire. She used the money to buy materials for circuit boards, which she custom builds and uses for talks in local schools and colleges.

“I am a keen advocate of promoting a career in the trades to young boys and girls. By offering a hands on practical lesson I want to encourage both boys and girls into the construction sector.

“It was great to get support from NICEIC and as a female in the trade I fully support the Jobs for the Girls campaign.”

Another one to benefit was 18 year-old Britany Douglas. She had just started an apprenticeship and used the money to buy tools and the latest 18^th Edition wiring regulations.

She said: “The bursary meant I was able to buy the tools I needed to start my apprenticeship. There are a lot of things you need to buy when just starting out so it was great that I could get a helping hand.”

In the six months since launching the bursary, NICEIC has provided £5000 of funding to more than 20 women.

The youngest applicant was a 17 year-old just staring out at college and the oldest was a 55 year-old who wanted to get back on the tools after a career break.

The average age of all applicants was 29 - perhaps an indicator of the later age that women traditionally come into the electrical industry.

Emma Clancy, CEO of NICEIC, commented: “Over the last seven years we have seen a marked increase in the number of women who come to us looking for help and assistance. Employers have also been in touch to see how they can attract more female candidates.

“Where possible we have provided access to training, technical information and opportunities with our registered contractors, but it has not always been possible to assist those who just need a helping hand along the way.

“Through this bursary we have been able to offer practical and financial support and hopefully create a smoother route into the industry.

“If we can help out those women who are just starting out or inspire others who might be thinking about a career in the electrical industry then we will be well on the way to addressing the gender imbalance directly.”

NICEIC is committed to encouraging more women in to the electrical industry via its Jobs for the Girls campaign. Applications for the 2019 Jobs for the Girls bursary will open in Spring next year.

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Jobs for the girls, NICEIC

Jobs for the Girls campaign nominated for award

gazza — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Jobs for the Girls campaign nominated for award

gazza Tue, 21/02/2017

NICEIC’s Jobs for the Girls campaign is up for a gong at this year’s Women in Construction awards.
The campaign has been shortlisted for the best staff training and development award at the ceremony which takes place in Manchester on March 1.
NICEIC CEO Emma Clancy commented: “Although more women are now choosing to take up a career in the trades, the numbers are still painfully low.
“Men outnumber women nine to one in the trades sector and through our Jobs for the Girls campaign we want to change that.
“Since its launch in 2011 the Jobs for the Girls campaign has achieved a lot, but there is still more to do.”
The nomination is in relation to NICEIC’s work with The Sheffield College and the charity WEST (Women in Engineering Science and Technology).
Together, they put on a free taster session for women in the Sheffield area, providing an insight into the work carried out by an electrician.
The session gave women the opportunity to find out more about the work involved and included practical sessions involving wiring up lighting circuits.
Following the event NICEIC offered up a bursary to three women who wanted to become an electrician. NICEIC also offered financial and technical support throughout their studies as well as helping them find work with a local registered contractor.
One of the students, Shauna Wigglesworth, went on to earn an apprenticeship with housing provider The Guinness Partnership. She has also been shortlisted for an award in the best apprentice aged over 25 category.
For more information about NICEIC and its Jobs for the Girls campaign visit niceic.com/jobsforthegirls

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Jobs for the girls, NICEIC