Member Article

Pilot programme breaks down gender barriers

A new pilot scheme is being launched in the North East which is aimed at breaking down gender stereotypes in the workplace. The North East Chamber of Commerce is to work with the Learning and Skills Council to reverse perceptions about male-dominated and female-dominated job roles. In the construction industry alone there are less than two per cent of women employed, despite there being a need for 2,500 new recruits per year in the region to deliver against current and future order books.To do this, young people on the scheme will be given help to find work placements in gender diverse roles, including engineering placements for females, and dental nursing placements for males, as well as attempting to open the door to employment for more under-represented groups.Karen Brown, NECC director of training and skills development, said: “Young people still follow the stereotypical roles of work in the North East, but they need to be made aware of the diverse options available to them. This initiative is opening up the eyes of young people, and some employers, to wider opportunities. “It is important to get this message out to challenge old-fashioned and long held ideas as these young people will be the employers of the future. We have success stories of males becoming dental nurses, and females doing construction, design and engineering. Schools must encourage such proactive thinking, and we look forward to playing a role.” The Chamber has appointed an equality and diversity champion, Joyce Sinclair, who will be aiming to persuade businesses in Tyne and Wear to support the pilot scheme by offering work placements for trainees, as well as aiming to recruit more school-leavers onto apprenticeships. As part of the drive, Mrs Sinclair is staging demonstrations in secondary schools across the whole of Tyne and Wear, and working in conjunction with Newcastle City Council to promote the work of the Chamber in communities affected by unemployment.For more information about the Equality and Diversity drive, contact Joyce Sinclair on (0191) 386 1133, or email joyce.sinclair@ne-cc.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .