Breaking the Mould was a training and employment project funded through the European Social Fund. The project gave an opportunity to twelve unemployed women from Raploch and the wider Stirling Council area to gain accredited training in construction Trade Tasters, working in an industry where women are under represented.
As part of their training the women attended Forth Valley College 3 days per week and had a placement with a local company for the other 2 days. The women also undertook Health & Safety tests and a Construction Industry Training Board assessment.
The project was a huge success with 9 trainees securing employment (8 of these were jobs or apprenticeships within the construction industry). The women have also made great friendships and for most it has changed their lives completely.
The project won a number of awards including the ESF Objective 3 Good Practice Awards and Scottish Qualifications Authority Lifelong Learning Award which was in conjunction with Forth Valley College.
The URC ran this as a pilot, the project's success has proved that women do want to work within the industry and can do so successfully.