Reflecting on an Incredible 2024 at WOMEN'STEC!

As we bid farewell to 2024, we're proud to share some of the remarkable milestones we've achieved this year!

• January: We kicked off the year by partnering with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, spending time with their repair and maintenance staff to discuss barriers faced by women and girls entering the construction industry.

• February: We hosted our first public Try A Trade event in collaboration with the Housing Executive, giving women a hands-on introduction to trades.

• March: We co-hosted a Women in Transport event with Vix and Translink, empowering women in the transport sector. We also welcomed a visit from the Prime Minister of Kosovo, highlighting our work internationally!

• April: We spent a wonderful day at Montalto Estate for the Time For Me Building Futures event, focusing on personal growth and well-being. We also welcomed a visit from the Secretary of State, furthering discussions on important initiatives.

• May: We were thrilled to host the Junior Ministers for discussions on the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, reinforcing our commitment to advocacy and safety for women.

• June: Our #NotJustForBoys event with CITB NI inspired future female tradespeople, and we held our first Breakfast of #Champions event, celebrating our incredible #Champions.

• July: We celebrated the CBenACT Cross Border Project, unveiled our new van, and took our Connect4Women group on an exciting site visit with #Champions JP Corry! We also started the first of our #NotJustForBoys Summer Schemes and partnered with DfC Historic Environment Division to trial heritage skills during a visit to the Conservation Works Team Depot in Moira.

• August: We hosted a fantastic Girls in Construction Day with CITB NI, inspiring the next generation of female builders. We also enjoyed a relaxing Staff Residential in the beautiful Mourne Mountains to recharge and refocus.

• September: We attended the “Care, Women, and a New Economy” conference with NIWBG, advancing discussions on creating a more equitable economy.

• October: Our #NotJustForBoys Champions at Braidwater welcomed us to their Glenmona site for another brilliant visit. We also celebrated the International Day of Rural Women by visiting our Building Futures class in Killough, where we heard directly from students about the transformative impact of rural workshops.

• November: We empowered young women at the “Girls Allowed” Conference 2024, sharing opportunities and inspiring leadership. We ended the month with our magical Christmas Craft Fair, complete with raffles, music, food, and even Santa!

• December: We wrapped up the year with yet another fantastic Girls in Construction Day, inspiring more women to explore opportunities in trades.

Throughout 2024, we’ve worked hard to empower women and foster new opportunities. None of this would have been possible without our amazing students, staff, #Champions, and supporters. Thank you all for everything this year, here’s to an even more exciting 2025!