We are looking forward to welcoming a group of ten Girl Guides from the 29th Ipswich (All Hallows) Guide unit, from Gainsborough Estate, to our site at Ravenswood next week, where we are constructing 96 homes of affordable and social rent for Handford Homes Ipswich, part of Ipswich Borough Council.
We answered an appeal from the Guides who are working to raise just over £8000 after some of their members were given the opportunity to take part in a life-changing trip to Paris. We responded with a financial pledge towards the fundraising, but also saw it as an opportunity to give the Guides the chance to learn about, and gain, some experience of careers for women in construction.
One of the Guides’ themes for earning badges is based on ‘Breaking Barriers’ so what better way to help them understand how to break down those barriers than to actually get them on-site to do a practical construction activity and actually talk to some of our female employees about working in a male dominated industry?
The Guides will be provided with PPE, sponsored by Tiger Supplies, do a site tour then take on a practical construction activity.
The initiative caught the attention of the CITB, represented by Allison Copeman who will talk about career opportunities and training routes for women into construction.
The Guides will be presented with certificates, information and goodies to take away but hopefully the biggest thing they take away will be the confidence to know they can break down any barriers to whatever career they choose in the future.
