Hosted at Our Lady and St Swithin’s Catholic Primary School in Liverpool on Tuesday February 27th, the partners organised a Careers Carousel featuring an all-women line-up.
From buyers and technical assistants to gas engineers and plumbers, the event aimed to shatter stereotypes, and to emphasise that the construction sector is not limited to men or traditional trade roles.
Representatives from Lovell included marketing managers, sales directors, and partnership directors who each shared their unique career journeys to raise awareness of the myriad opportunities available.
The event has received funding from Cobalt Housing and the Raising Aspirations programme in primary schools, in areas where they have housing stock. Representatives from Cobalt, Lovell and Positive Footprints came together to see how we can inspire children in Croxteth and with the Women in Construction Event Week approaching from March 3rd – 9th, this was the ideal time to host the event.
Laura Taylor, community engagement manager at Lovell said: “There is a skills crisis in the construction industry and a wealth of talented and ambitious young people that are ready to start thinking about their future careers. It’s essential that professionals work to engage with students to make them realise the breadth of opportunity that is out there.
"Participating in this event was truly inspiring. Being able to showcase the diverse roles available highlighted the limitless opportunities for women in construction. The children were engaged and enthusiastic, gaining valuable insights into the industry, which we hope will empower them for the future. It was clear by the end of the day that this event successfully challenged preconceived notions about careers in construction.”
The event was held as part of the 26th annual Women in Construction Week, which aims to break down barriers, showcase diverse career paths, and inspire the next generation of builders.
Manila Sood, partnerships officer at Cobalt Housing, said: “Lovell organised this event as part of their focus on making a positive difference in our local communities. It’s also been great to involve our other contractors, including HMS, Sure Maintenance, Ecogee and AB Electrical, as part of their social value commitments to show the pupils at St Swithin’s just how many opportunities there are for them when they grow up.”
Jo Norwood, customer relationship manager at Positive Footprints, said: “It’s been great to co-ordinate this careers event with Cobalt and Lovell for the benefit of pupils in Croxteth. We are working with a number of schools to raise the aspirations of pupils and inspire them by allowing them to meet inspirational individuals both in person and online. When companies come together, they can truly shape brighter futures and we have witnessed that today.”
One of the young participants said: “I didn’t really understand construction before today. I spoke to Lovell and Cobalt, there were loads of different jobs! I learned about designing the inside and outsides of houses and was interested to understand the differences between bungalows and the houses that are connected together.”
Lovell Partnerships and Cobalt Housing are currently working together on the creation of 88 new homes at Waterdale Gardens in Croxteth. Located next to the Showcase cinema on East Lancashire Road, the development will include a mix of two, three and four-bed homes which will be available for affordable rent, rent-to-buy and shared ownership. Find out more here.
