Hosted at Warrington & Vale Royal College’s Warrington campus, the Girls in Construction Summit welcomed 72 Year 10 pupils from six secondary schools to partake in an exciting day of talks from female industry professionals, engage with a panel of accomplished construction experts, and gain hands-on experience of construction training in the college’s cutting-edge workshops.
The expert panellists included Renee Preston, Director of Galloway Construction and CEO & Founder of Women in Construction, Julie Ferns, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Vistry Group, and Grace Roberts, Estimator at Kimpton.
Renee, Julie and Grace kick-started the day with an interactive employer panel in the college’s newly renovated theatre, inspiring the next generation through an innovative workshop aimed at empowering the students to explore the diverse career opportunities within the construction industry.
The pupils were then accompanied to the college’s new Construction & Civil Engineering Academy (CCEA) where they had the unique opportunity to engage in hands-on activities, including bricklaying, carpentry & joinery, plumbing, electrical installation, and construction design, surveying and planning.
The pupils were treated to lunch by the college and received parting gifts of CCEA goody bags and delicious cupcakes provided by Renee.
CCEA Business Centre Manager, Kerry Dowd, commented: “At Warrington & Vale Royal College, we are committed to playing our part in encouraging young people to explore the vast array of opportunities available to them within the construction industry.
“Through our partnership with Women in Construction, we aim to inspire the next generation of female construction professionals, helping young people be the best they can be by providing opportunities to learn more about a career in construction and gain hands-on experience across a range of practical skills.
“We were delighted to host over 70 female students for our Girls in Construction Summit, which we hope will go a long way towards challenging stereotypes and showcasing that construction is not just for boys!”
