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A new partnership between community interest group Evolve Women and Southern Regional College is sharing the stories of women at different stages of their lives and careers, as part of an ongoing series on Instagram that continues the conversation sparked by International Women's Day on 8 March.
a TaeKwonDo champion, is building her career in the trade
after first studying the subject through the Schools Partnership
Programme at Southern Regional College. Rachael hopes her
experience will encourage more women to consider careers
in skilled trades.
Evolve Women, which is based in Armagh and forms part of the Tarasis Foundation, has joined with SRC to produce the series, which challenges the notion that age, gender or circumstance should limit opportunity. The content is being shared across the Instagram accounts of both organisations.
Among those featuring in the series is electrical installation apprentice Rachael Carvill, a TaeKwonDo champion who is determined to demonstrate that women are equally capable of succeeding in skilled trades. Rachael has the backing of her employer Murray & McEvoy as she works through her apprenticeship.
Jessica Sharp is also featured, having returned to education after 14 years working in management roles within the healthcare sector. She is currently studying Healthcare Practice, a qualification equivalent to the first year of a nursing degree, while continuing to work within the Belfast Trust.
Jessica is keen to encourage others who may be considering a similar step. "Never let anyone tell you that you can't achieve your dreams," she said. "Put it on your vision board and connect with those people that are in those roles and ask them how they got there. Do as much as you can to learn and experience life in the world because life is so short."
Engineering (Electrical & Electronic) Level 5 Foundation
Degree at SRC’s Newry campus. Having previously worked as
a speech and language assistant, Louise was inspired by her
daughter who currently works within Formula 1, to pursue her
interest in a traditionally male dominated field.
Engineering degree student Louise McQuaid also shares her story in the series. Inspired by her daughter, Louise chose to pursue a degree in engineering later in life and hopes her experience will encourage others to recognise that it is never too late to follow a dream.
Also speaking as part of the series are Rachel Dorovatas, Director of Industry Training and Support at CTIB NI; Peter Farrelly, SRC Tiling Lecturer and Mitchel Smith, UK Electrical Installation Training Manager for Squad UK.
The series can be found at @evolvewomen_ or @southernregionalcollege on Instagram.
