Young women were urged to consider careers in construction during a conference in Inverness yesterday.
Four female apprentices from the Highlands joined industry experts at the event at Inverness College to explain the opportunities and advantages in the sector to schoolgirls from the area.
The Women in Construction event was organised by ConstructionSkills, which helps the industry in recruitment and training.
Schoolgirls spoke to apprentices in plumbing, joinery, painting and electrics.
Among the apprentices was final-year plumbing apprentice Jane Forsyth, 20, who said that she had not experienced any problems because of being a woman.
She said: “Sometimes the first time on site someone will make a comment, but it just makes you push yourself harder to do the job. They realise that you are just there to work and appreciate that you are doing the job.”
Miss Forsyth, who grew up in the Grantown area but now lives in Forres, added: “I always fancied doing this job and, when I had the chance to do work experience with construction company ROK, I really enjoyed it.”
She said that she hoped to gain further experience with ROK before one day starting her own business.
“Some people are surprised when I turn up to do a job, but afterwards they say that they prefer having a female in the house.”
Keynote speaker at the conference was ROK training leader in Scotland, Bill Sweeney.
He said: “The quality of work being delivered by women in construction is first class.
“Despite the recession in the UK, we need to plan for the future and continue with apprenticeships.
“There is no reason why more women can’t become involved in the industry and take advantage of some of those job opportunities.
“We’ve discovered that young female apprentices pay close attention to the work at hand and that our young male apprentices are matching their high standards.”