As part of our Women in Construction Pledge, we are offering a construction focused work experience programme to young women in school years 10 & 11 from schools local to our head office in Ipswich.
The programme will involve a week’s work experience, spending a day in different construction related departments across Orwell, where young women can gain a broad insight and understanding of working in the affordable housing industry in construction related roles.
The week will come with mentoring and accompaniment from a member of our Women in Construction focus group for each work experience student, with each aspect risk assessed to ensure the safety of the student.
We may be able to tailor the specific details to the interests and aspirations of the individual student, but for example the week could look like this:
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Day 1: Asset Management Team
Visiting properties to inspect the longevity of structural materials and internal assets, students will be involved in surveying and assessing property components such as roofing, windows, bathrooms and kitchens. Then inputting data into our software systems to inform our Programme Works teams on building component lifecycles and replacement timelines needed to keep in line with the Decent Homes Standard.
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Day 2: Development Team
Students can analyse architectural or engineering drawings to help ensure properties are designed and built to be practical and aesthetically pleasing and to meet our design standards. A visit to a construction site will allow students to see architectural or engineering drawings come to life and homes being built. Students will gain knowledge on health and safety and will be introduced to the management of risk and budgets to understand the requirements of successful project management.
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Day 3: Property Services Team
Students will get to see what happens when a customer reports a repair and how this is handled from beginning to end. They will learn about the different types of repairs from health & safety issues, emergency and urgent repairs to more standard repairs and project repairs using internal and external contractors, gaining insight into contract management and furthering understanding of project management.
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Day 4: Orwell Repairs Service
A practical day out and about, this will be hands on experience of undertaking repair tasks with our Repairs Operatives. This could be carpentry, plumbing, decorating or general repairs in occupied or vacant properties. As a customer facing service this will include communicating with our customers about their repair and ensuring our service standard is delivered.
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Day 5: Estate Services
Students will be able to experience what a day of the gardening team involves. It can include, grass cutting, strimming, hedge cutting, litter picking and other manual tasks. This is a great opportunity to boost confidence in communication with the team and the residents and will give an insight into what it takes to maintain our communal spaces to a good standard.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience in the construction industry and will enable young women to gain understanding and experience key skills in areas which they can use in the future.
Please contact us for more information or to register your interest:
workexperience@orwell-housing.co.uk
More about our Women in Construction Pledge at Orwell Housing Association
At Orwell Housing Association we celebrate the many women we have working in construction related jobs. Through our Women in Construction focus group, we look for opportunities to highlight some of these roles and to raise awareness of the careers available to women in the affordable housing construction related sector.
Women remain significantly underrepresented in the construction industry at around 16% of the workforce. The industry can’t afford to ignore them. Labour and skills shortages, with high demand and increasing costs, are often cited as big challenges in the future of house building.
The industry can provide women with a multitude of exciting possible career pathways, from architects and engineers to ‘on the tools’ roles, with apprenticeships, professional qualifications, or chartered status waiting for the right candidates.
The contribution of women in many areas of the industry could support a more equitable sector: challenging the current male dominated environment. Inclusivity is needed and should be standard.
As women working in the industry, we feel a responsibility to encourage advocacy, education, and networking to inspire future generations. We want to help challenge stereotypes and showcase what can be done. Rather than ‘fall into’ a career in construction we want young women to be aware of the possibilities and be able to positively choose a career in construction and affordable housing construction.
