Case Study: Occupational Segregation - Leicestershire City Council

Leicester City Council has developed a programme of positive action to encourage women and girls to apply for apprenticeships in craft trades and the construction industry.

The Council offers women only courses to give a taste of bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, painting and decorating, and plastering. These are advertised in posters, visits to schools, visits to Job Centres, and an advertisement in a local magazine. The courses are mainly taught by tradeswomen. After participating on the course the women are encouraged to do work experience with a view to applying for an apprenticeship.

Teams of tradeswomen visit schools and career centres to act as role models to encourage girls and women to consider a career in the construction trade. Schools are encouraged to send girls on work experience with the Council

In addition, pre-testing and interview skills workshops are held to help women applicants. Recruitment posters and application forms are designed to be user friendly with pictures depicting women in the working environment.

147 women, from a variety of ethnicities, joined the Women Only Course in the construction trades, run jointly by the Council’s Housing Department and Leicester College. The age range was from 16 to 65. 20 of the trainees went on to work experience. A one-day interview workshop was also run to help the women understand the selection process and build confidence

The total number of job applications for 2006 was 417, of which 77 were women. The ethnic breakdown of these applicants was 58 white, 14 black, and 5 Asian. The total number of women who were offered apprenticeships was 10: 3 black women, 2 Asian women and 5 white women. Their ages ranged from 17 to 41.