Big rise in women building up careers.

Byline: Paul Suart

THE number of women carving out careers in construction has more than trebled, according to new figures from South Birmingham College.

The college, which has a specialist construction campus in Bordesley Green, has reported a massive increase in females taking up trade courses from just 60 in 2005 to nearly 200 this year.

Tutors believe attractive wages, job satisfaction and shifting attitudes to women in the workplace have sparked the increase.

Julie Richmond, deputy director of Work-based Learning at the Bordesley Green campus, said: "I don't think there's such a stigma attached to it as it's no longer such a male-dominated career path.

"Sometimes vulnerable people prefer a female worker as it makes them feel much more comfortable.

"We offer our female students plenty of support and use our industry links to help them get apprenticeships and work."

Demi Insell, 17, has started a Level 1 City and Guilds course in plumbing and aims to use her expertise to work around the world. She said: "With a job like this you always have opportunities.

"I'm a very practical person.

I worked in an office and hated it.

"I like getting a real result and the job is different every day.

"The lads on the course are a lot more supportive than I thought they would be.

"At first they said 'whoa, a girl!', but now they have accepted me!" Kay Davis, 24, from Sutton Coldfield, enrolled on a painting and decorating diploma because she loves the work and wants to prove women can do the job as well as men.

"Women see other women doing the job and are not so scared of doing it," she said.

"You also see a lot more women in construction in the media. It's really satisfying to see."

CAPTION(S):

Constructive: College students Berni Mulcahy, 18, and Demi Insell, 17.