In 2022, CPB Contractors launched a first-of-its-kind Women In Construction pre-employment program to enable greater female participation in construction site-based roles. Running over three weeks, 18 women participated, which enabled them to secure permanent employment on CPB Contractors’ projects in the health, roads, rail and tunnelling sectors across Sydney, NSW.
“This is an innovative and proactive step towards creating a more equitable construction industry where women fully participate,” said Don Johnson, CPB Contractors’ Chief Operations Officer.
Delivery of the program was led by CPB Contractors’ Training Development Manager Rebecca Britt, who also launched CPB Contractors’ highly-successful upskilling, safety and pre-employment training facility in Homebush.
“Developing and delivering the program was an amazing experience. To see this group of women, who had no prior construction industry skills, have a go and get the support they needed to thrive was very professionally and personally rewarding for me,” said Rebecca.
“The Women In Construction pre-employment program is, in my opinion, the best training program CPB Contractors has ever delivered. It has opened up opportunities for women who were looking for a career change, who were motivated to succeed and who are now thriving in their roles on infrastructure projects,” she added.
The four-step program is centred around classroom study, on-the-job learning and establishing a long-term career.
- Fundamentals: Participants take part in a paid 3-week pre-employment training program that introduces them to work on a construction project and explains the fundamentals of the industry.
- Employment: Successful participants receive a permanent offer of employment for an apprenticeship role on a CPB Contractors project.
- Work and learn: Participants are employed as construction workers and obtain a Certificate III Civil Construction – Plant Operations.
- Construction career: Participants are supported and encouraged to continue their careers working across CPB Contractors’ projects.
CPB Contractors will shortly open applications for the 2023 intake of their Women In Construction pre-employment program. Find out more here: https://cpbcontractors.cc/3zgYhxv