Kate Cubitt, Managing Director of Cubitt's Granny Flats and Home Extensions, announces the Cubitt's Female Carpentry Apprenticeship Programme, providing a support system for women who want to choose a carpentry career in the building industry.
While its long accepted a woman can do anything – the numbers of women taking up careers in the building industry are still low. The Australian construction association said in September 2022 “Just 12 per cent of the construction workforce are women, meaning the industry is missing out on employing half the working population—and this is at a time when a massive 105,000 additional construction workers are needed to deliver Australia’s project pipeline.” (source)
Traditional gender stereotypes, lack of awareness, and lack of support may still be behind the lack of women in Trades in Australia – and Kate Cubitt, second generation builder and Managing Director of Cubitt’s Granny Flats and Home Extensions is out to change all of that with the newly launched Cubitt’s Carpenter Apprenticeship Programme for Women.
The programme recognises not only the benefit of diversity in the workplace, but a huge untapped resource and desire for women to learn carpentry skills and other skills associated with working on a building site. With a drive to give Women access to the same support systems as men when it comes to pursuing a career in carpentry, the first female Cubitt’s apprentice will work directly under one of Cubitt’s qualified women carpenters.
Cubitt's are proud of employing their own tradespeople. Far from employing young female apprentices as a media stunt, Kate has been working hard over the past three years since she took over the family business to build a diverse workforce that has a strong representation of women.
Kate says, “We have been strategically working to find and employ some of the best female carpenters in NSW and ACT and are proud to say we already employ three women as part of our in house trades teams. Back in Head Office, key roles including operational roles are filled by women, ensuring any young women starting a career in what is still a very male dominated industry feels supported and has a variety of mentors that can offer advice or guidance”.
Workplace culture, particularly on site is something young women apprentices will be wondering about. Kate told us, ‘as with any workplace, teams build up dynamic around the support systems they have in place. Our young apprentices will always know what is expected of them, will always be given the training they need to do their job and will always have multi-layers of support as they navigate their new careers.’
The Cubitt’s Female apprenticeship programme aptly launches on International Women’s Day, March 8, the first role will be based out of our Sydney warehouse location in Emu Plains, and the first apprentice will work directly with one of our qualified female carpenters as they learn their trade. To apply, apprentices should send their CV and a covering letter to hello@cubitts.com.au
Photos provided by Maddie Moriarty, qualified Carpenter. See Instagram @SydneyChippieChick
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