Bunnings Trade backs women
Bunnings Trade celebrated National Women in Construction Week (5-11 March) with the launch of a new $100,000 initiative aimed at supporting women in trades early on in their careers.
The Bunnings Trade Women in Apprenticeships Award recognises 10 women in a trade currently completing an apprenticeship or recently qualified within the last 12-months.
Successful applicants and their employers will be granted support packs worth over $10,000, as well as on-going professional and wellbeing support from The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
Bunnings Trade is excited to announce a new initiative aimed at supporting women in a trade during the early stages of their career – Bunnings Trade Women in Apprenticeships Award. Bunnings Trade has partnered with NAWIC, Australia’s leading professional association for women in construction, to deliver 10 successful apprentices and their employers support packs worth over $10,000 that provide not only financial but on-going mentor and wellbeing support.
As the 3rd largest industry in Australia in terms of employees and contribution to GDP, construction has staggeringly few female participants: 11% of the construction industry is female in management, support and administration roles, only 2% of the industry is women in trades and on the tools.
Bunnings Trade is committed to providing meaningful support to help achieve better gender equality and foster a more inclusive and diverse construction industry.
With a strong representation of female team members in the Bunnings Trade team, Bunnings Trade understands the benefit of encouraging a more diverse and gender balanced workforce in the construction industry.
Bunnings Head of Trade Solutions Penny Gray said: “We know that women face a number of barriers when pursuing a trade profession, so we are pleased to play a small role in helping to empower women during the early stages of their trade career with the Women in Apprenticeships Award.
“It’s important to us that this initiative provides relevant support and it’s wonderful to have NAWIC on-board to offer on-going mentorship and professional advice to the successful tradies,” said Penny.
All applicants will also be provided a free 12-month NAWIC membership, which will give each of them access to an individual mentor, 24 x 7 mental health support, education programs and a support network of other local women in construction.
NAWIC General Manager Lauren Fahey said, “Supporting women in construction is a significant way we can improve female economic security, overcome the skills and labour crisis, and deliver greater profitability and innovation to the construction industry. We know that completion rates for rates for female apprenticeships are low.
“Bunnings Trade support of female apprenticeships is important in shifting the dial for women in construction. We are pleased to partner with Bunnings Trade for the Women in Apprenticeships Award program, celebrating the achievements of women in construction and amplifying their voices; At NAWIC we firmly believe you can be what you can see,” Lauren concluded.
