The tough targets would need a five-fold improvement in the current intake in just four years – currently around 10% of new recruits are women or from the ethnic minorities.
The CITB's ambitious objectives, laid out in its 2001 business plan, are to be achieved through a positive image campaign. A national conference for women working in construction will be launched, and there will be a database of female role models and mentors.
The Board is also to pilot a career development programme for members of ethnic minority groups.
The CITB acknowledges that its targets will not be easy to achieve. The business plan says: "The tough new targets set out represent a major challenge if significant improvements are to be made in these areas." JTL, the electrical industry's training manager, says that less than 5% of its electrical apprentices currently in training are women or those from ethnic minorities.
JTL is introducing literature which sets out the business case for equal opportunities to employers. It is also targeting its recruitment advertising at ethnic minorities. Moves are afoot to introduce women-only training courses in the electrical industry.
Dennis Hird, chief executive of national training organisation NET, says: "We are working with JTL to promote this to the industry. Our web site is to be completely revitalised to include positive case studies on women and ethnic minorities."
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor