'BLUE-COLLAR' CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN

July 5, 2005 (BBC News) A campaign to encourage more Northern Ireland women into male-dominated sectors is getting a £500,000 boost.

Green-fingered BBC presenter Charlie Dimmock has launched the European pilot project in Belfast.

It aims to get more women into blue-collar areas such as construction, horticulture and bus driving.

The Women in Non-traditional Sectors project (WINS) has been co-ordinated with the Construction Industry Training Board, Housing Executive and Translink.

Heather Louden, who has responsibility for WINS within Belfast City Council, said Charlie Dimmock was "a perfect example of a woman working in a non-traditional sector".

"Horticulture as a profession is very male dominated but she demonstrates that women can succeed in it too," she said.

"The WINS project is investigating why women are not attracted to jobs in non-traditional sectors and our launch event is aimed at making people aware of the opportunities out there and how they might take them up."

The pilot project is the first where a local council is taking the lead, said Ms Louden.

"It is part of our overall development plans to improve economic activity in Belfast, particularly the activity of women."

The WINS project launch at the Waterfront Hall is open to anyone interested in finding out more about opportunities for employment in non-traditional sectors.

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4649759.stm