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Plugging the skills gap: women are the answer says Jo

June 29, 2006 4:10 PM
Jo Swinson in hard hat with tap and spanner

Women make up less than 1% of the UK's total manual workforce

The skills gap in construction provides incredible opportunities for women. Jo Swinson MP has rolled up her sleeves alongside fellow women MPs including Deputy Minister for Women and Equality Meg Munn, to learn basic plumbing to highlight the advantages of a career in manual trades for women.

The event, run by Women and Manual Trades and sponsored by the JIVE project, gave MPs top five plumbing tips and a practical session on pipe work including bending and joints.

Jo Swinson commented:

"Too few women are encouraged to enter into manual trades, which are still largely seen as a male preserve. The skills gap that exists in this country can be narrowed by giving more women opportunities to train in construction."

Meg Munn MP, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, said:

"Women and Manual Trades champions women working in the construction industry. Women are an untapped resource to fill shortages in construction - we need more women to meet this demand."

Women are underrepresented within the construction industry making up only 0.9% of the total manual workforce. 88,000 more workers are needed annually to meet the skills shortage according to the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board).

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