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A new partnership to support women to secure employment opportunities in the Newry, Mourne, Down and Belfast regions has been launched in the Mourne Country Hotel in Newry.
The Building Futures programme, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund sees WOMEN’STEC, Bolster Community and Women In Business NI take part in a programme to supports economically inactive women to gain skills, develop confidence and explore opportunities in their area, for life and work. This programme offers a wide range of courses in DIY and construction skills, numeracy and digital literacy, entrepreneurship and personal development, as well as mentoring and access to training vouchers. It will target 420 participants over its 2-year period and will engage and support economically inactive women, particularly within priority groups, including over 50’s and those living in rural communities.
The exciting new partnership was launched at the Mourne Country Hotel in Newry 8 June 2023, bringing together the three partners, employers from local organisations, employers from the construction industry and local community groups to learn about the programme and engage in a process of information gathering on skill and employment gaps in the local areas and the specific needs of local women.
Lynn Carvill, CEO of WOMEN’STEC said, “We are absolutely delighted to be launching the Building Futures programme in partnership with Bolster Community and Women in Business in the Newry, Mourne and Down and Belfast areas. We know from previous pilot programmes that women really want to build their skills and just how empowering DIY & trades skills can be for women. We are so looking forward to rolling this programme out across local towns and rural areas over the next two years.”
WOMEN’STEC will provide a community engagement programme of training in DIY/Construction skills, resources and support for local women in the Newry, Mourne and Down area and Greater Belfast Area. Bolster Community will deliver a range of wellbeing, personal development, numeracy and literacy support programmes, and Women in Business NI will provide ‘Entrepreneurship Discovery Days’ and ‘Business Basics’ courses to support women to explore entrepreneurship and the opportunities for establishing their own businesses and becoming self-employed. The programme provides participants with access to one-to-one mentoring support, training vouchers for specific industry related qualifications, employability skills support and opportunities for work experience, work taster days and links with local employers.
Councillor Valerie Harte, Chairperson of the NMD District Council closed the ceremony with a wonderful speech and later said, “I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Bolster Community's new programme, ‘Building Futures’, in partnership with WOMENSTEC and Women in Business alongside my friend and colleague, Liz Kimmins MLA. This new and exciting programme is designed to support and empower women in securing employment opportunities, which was evidenced by the diverse group of employers and businesses from various sectors in attendance. Best wishes to the Bolster Community, WOMEN’STEC, and Women in Business teams, as well as everyone involved in this worthwhile programme."
Jacinta Linden, CEO of Bolster Community, said, “Launching the Building Futures initiative in Newry was an absolute pleasure, feedback from employers, community reps, stakeholders and colleagues, confirmed that we are bringing an innovative and exciting project to women throughout Newry, Mourne and Down and Belfast and we are excited and enthused to bring it forward. The synergy with and between WOMEN’STEC, Women in Business and Bolster is potentially transformational and we look forward to better supporting women within our locality.”
Lorraine Acheson, Managing Director of Women in Business NI said, “Women in Business is delighted to be partnering with WOMEN’STEC and the Bolster Community to deliver the Building Futures Programme. Our mission as part of the WIB Group is to help create an inclusive economy, and this programme will do this by supporting women in their journeys back into the workforce and into entrepreneurship. NI currently has the highest rate of economically inactive women compared to the rest of the UK and this programme couldn’t be more important.”
