Women’s Tec Trading Places Project was awarded the Non-traditional Areas Award sponsored by CITB at the Training for Women Network’s Celebration of Excellence Awards Ceremony. These awards highlight best practice in women’s training and development and celebrate the successes of local organisations recognising the benefits that well trained and educated women bring to the local economy and society.
The Trading Places Project is an innovative training programme run in partnership with a leading Government Trading Organisation, for women who wish to gain a recognised trade qualification that will provide them progression into the construction industry or land based sector.
Over £100,000 funding was received from the EU Urban II Community Initiative Programme to deliver two training programmes (Women Returners Environment Employment Programme and Women into Painting and Decorative Trades) to women in North Belfast. Catherine Taggart, Programme Strategy Director of the Urban II Programme said:
“Urban II are delighted to fund such a successful programme and congratulate the Womens Tec on this significant achievement. The programme provides a support mechanism to reduce the obstacles preventing women to train and progress within the labour market, which is a key objective of the Urban II Programme”.
Highlighting the importance of this programme Senior Careers Officer for CITB Catherine McGeady said:
“This project is designed to remove the barriers into non-traditional training by carefully identifying each trainees learning need. The project provides a comprehensive programme of skills training, personal development and practical assistance with childcare, transport and support.
A main focus of the Construction Industry Training Board is to promote non-traditional careers to women throughout Northern Ireland and this project provides excellent opportunities for women entering into the construction industry.”
Expressing their delight at winning this prestigious award, Sandra Broghan the Project Co-Coordinator said:
“We are delighted to have won the ‘Non-Traditional Areas’ Award. The Trading Places Project is a highly innovative and interactive project that aims to provide local women with a range of supportive training to equip them with essential skills and support to work within the construction industry or land based sector. This project aims to address the current under-representation of women within the construction industry and winning this award will further highlight to women the opportunities available in non-traditional sectors.
Emphasising the importance of the Celebration of Excellence Awards, Norma Shearer, TWN’s Chief Executive, said:
“The Celebration of Excellence Awards provides much needed recognition to organisations and individuals that demonstrate a high level of commitment to women’s training and development in Northern Ireland. The women’s training and education sector makes a positive contribution to Northern Ireland’s political, social and cultural landscape. This sector plays a vital role alongside Government in building the foundations of a more economically and socially sustainable society and TWN through these awards aims to celebrate and build upon these achievements.”
All award winners received their awards at a special ceremony held in the Culloden Hotel. A full list of winners can be obtained from TWN’s website: www.twnonline.com
For further information please contact Kellie-Ann Hunter, Training for Women Network Tel: 028 9031 9888, mobile 07966241308.
|
