This week not only are we celebrating Women in Construction week, today 8th March is also International Women’s Day.
If felt appropriate to share the great work happening in Styal Women’s Prison that celebrates both these themes.Here at Procure Plus, our raison d’etre has always been the Plus, and this partnership working with female prisoners. at Styal Women’s Prison in Manchester is a great example of this.
Involved in this partnership is the North West Construction Hub, Equans, Morgan Sindall, ISG, Novus and Fulcrum.
In 2018, the North West Construction Hub (NWCH) were contacted by ‘Working Chance’ who are the only UK. recruitment consultancy for women leaving the criminal justice and care systems.
Supported by our contractor partners NWCH facilitated a ‘have a go day’, where any prisoners could attend and literally “have a go” a some of the construction trades.
Following the success of the event, HMP Styal prison alongside ourselves and the main contractors developed a. programme focussed on developing careers in construction for offenders due for release.
Following the success of this event a programme was developed targeted at prisoners due for release or ROTL (release on temporary licence).
The course was a week long and included:
7 prisoners completed the course, and we continue to support 6 of them and they develop a career in construction.
We have had some really positive feedback from the prisoners and staff at HMP Styal following the course.
Here are just some of the quotes from the prisoners, who have been through the course.
“It made me more certain that females can take up jobs in construction after watching everybody succeed at their task today.”
“I am more aware of the variety of roles available, and more confident to explore these as careers.”
“I wasn’t interested in construction at all, but after today I would consider looking at construction work.”
Procure Plus has given their full support in arranging a ‘Have a Go’ day where 30 women got to trial various construction trades. This further led to a CSCS course being procured for Styal via Keeley from Procure Plus and funded by the Northwest Construction Hub, with an overall aim of supporting women into ROTL roles and. employment on release. Procure Plus have really engaged with us and worked with us collaboratively to empower the women in our custody and have continued to support them after the course, providing them with continuous support.