WOMEN'STEC is an innovative social enterprise based in Northern Ireland supporting women to explore career opportunities in sectors where female workforce participation is low, such as construction, engineering and IT. https://linktr.ee/WOMENSTEC Established in 1993, WOMEN'STEC works with unemployed or economically inactive women to address the barriers that prevent them from moving into employment, supporting them with trades skills training, employability skills, personal development and other support services. Our core programme, 'Building Futures' delivers skills training in trades such as carpentry, electrics, plumbing, tiling, painting and decorating, gardening or mosaics, complemented by personal development courses, work support and other health and wellbeing, social inclusion or cross community projects. Our youth programme, 'Promoting Opportunities Programme: #notjustforboys' works with school girls who are not pursuing a traditional academic route post-GCSE, encouraging them to explore career opportunities in sectors where female representation in the workforce is low, such as the construction, engineering or IT industries. The programme works in partnership with schools and youth organisations, further education colleges, training organisations and the construction industry, to heighten awareness of the huge range of ‘non-traditional’ careers available and provide a seamless and supported pathway for girls from disadvantaged areas to move into these well-paid jobs. WOMEN’STEC has strong links with a number of community development and policy advocacy networks including the Women’s Regional Consortium, the Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group and the Greater North Belfast Women's Forum. In March 2019, we were awarded 'Provider of the Year' at OCN's inaugural Learning Endeavour Awards.
