Morgan Sindall pilots DIY skills scheme for women 

Morgan Sindall has partnered with Preston-based charity Lancashire Women to pilot a new DIY course offering practical skills, as well as providing experience of careers in construction.

Lancashire Women supports women facing challenges such as domestic abuse, addiction, and reintegration after time in prison.

Six women, who are patrons of the charity, joined the pilot programme. It enabled them to identify which home issues they could tackle independently and which might require landlord assistance.

The course was delivered over six weeks with support from Morgan Sindall’s supply chain partners, who helped to upskill the participants and also enhanced the facilities at the Lancashire Women Preston Centre.

Gill Roberts, senior social value manager at Morgan Sindall, said: “Our new DIY course is designed to empower individuals who could benefit from extra support, equipping them with practical skills for greater independence. 

“Partnering with Lancashire Women, we focused on empowering women facing life challenges, offering hands-on training that not only builds self-reliance but opens doors to potential career opportunities. 

“The positive response to this pilot has been inspiring, and we’re excited to expand the programme across the North West and nationwide, reaching other groups in need, including other women’s charities, care leavers groups, and more.”

Kara Raynor, programme manager at Lancashire Women, said the charity is grateful to Morgan Sindall and its supply chain for donating their time and materials “not only to improve our centre, but to give our users an unforgettable experience and new skills along the way”. 

“The idea of the course was to give the women experience of non-traditional female careers in construction, as well as giving them some practical skills to help them in their day-to-day lives,” Raynor added. 

“Feedback from our attendees has been really positive – it’s been really exciting for the team to come and do a new theme every week. They’ve loved every minute of it and it’s given them a huge boost in confidence.”