MORE construction workers, especially women, are needed to fill the skills gap even though some training courses are full.

That was the message from Tony Allen, of the Learning and Skills Council for Kent and Medway (LSCKM), as National Construction Week got under way.

Although a £13m construction skills training programme is closing the skills gap, and 4,500 people are training in construction crafts at Kent colleges, the county still needs more.

The LSC has established two Centres of Vocational Excellence, one in construction at South Kent College, and the other in electrical installation at Mid-Kent College. It has also supported the development of six construction and related trades centres and facilities.

Mr Allen, LSCKM interim area director, said that National Construction Week was a great opportunity to highlight the excellent career prospects in construction.

He said: "Places on construction courses are now much sought after and many of the courses offered are oversubscribed.

"But we still need to increase numbers further and open up the construction industry to an even wider range of learners. In particular we would like to see the number of female learners increasing.

"It is not widely enough realised that learners can take the vocational route to achieve both trades skills and advanced professional qualifications. The vocational path to senior management and professional careers is now wide open."

Meanwhile, schools have been urged to encourage more young women to become plumbers, brickies and sparks.

Despite a regional construction boom, Rob Leitch, managing director of Bluestone, based in Ashford, says that too few women are taking up skilled trades such as plumbers, bricklayers or electricians.

Mr Leitch believes that women are put off by the overwhelmingly male image. At the moment, women make up just 10 per cent of the UK construction workforce and a mere one per cent of all tradespeople.

"The construction industry still has an image problem with women who see this kind of work and the environment as dirty, unattractive and hostile towards females which really isn’t the case," he said.

"As an industry, we face a serious skills shortage of skilled trades people and we need to work with schools to change industry perceptions and make more young women aware of the terrific career opportunities and rewards the construction trades offer."

He says female students should be actively encouraged to take part in school-based industry and technology courses that lead to careers in skilled construction trades and called on schools to invite "inspiring" tradewomen to talk about their job.

Mr Leitch added: "The more young women that know these trades are out there, the better it will be because there are so many great career opportunities they are missing. What’s more, once they have the skills, they have enormous earning potential."

* National Construction Week runs from October 5 - 12. Details at www.ncw.org.uk.