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Women into Construction: NQ (Level 5)

Woodworking equipment including clamps, timber planks, and a bright yellow safety helmet neatly arranged on a storage rack in a joinery workshop.
Qualification Qualifications Explained
Study Mode
Full Time
Duration

1 Year - 2.5 Days p/w
Start date
Aug 2026
Campus
East End
Applications open January 2026

Course overview

Build confidence, gain new skills, and take your first step into a rewarding construction career.

The NQ Women into Construction (Level 5) course has been designed to help women develop the practical skills, technical knowledge, and confidence to begin working in the construction industry.

Through a mix of hands-on workshops, classroom learning, and online activities, you’ll gain valuable experience across several trades, including Carpentry & Joinery, Bricklaying, Roofing, and Painting & Decorating. You’ll also develop employability, ICT, and problem-solving skills, all of which are essential for securing a craft apprenticeship or further study in construction.

This course promotes equality, inclusion, and opportunity — supporting women to enter and succeed in an industry that needs more diverse talent.

This course is ideal if you:

  • Want to explore a career in construction but aren’t sure which trade to specialise in.
  • Are looking for a supportive, inclusive learning environment designed for women.
  • Enjoy practical, hands-on work and learning new skills.
  • Want to build confidence, independence, and employability skills.
  • Aim to apply for a Modern Apprenticeship or move into a construction-related role after completion.

What you will learn

You’ll gain an introduction to key construction trades and industry practices through a combination of workshop and classroom learning.

Key Learning Areas

  • Carpentry & Joinery Skills – bench joinery, component manufacture, and repair work.
  • Bricklaying Fundamentals – basic walling and construction techniques.
  • Roofing and Painting – introduction to finishing and maintenance skills.
  • Construction Occupation Practices – health & safety, teamwork, and site awareness.
  • ICT & Employability Skills – CV creation, job applications, and digital communication.
  • Problem-Solving and Transferable Skills – applying creativity and collaboration to workplace challenges.

This course is delivered via blended learning, combining classroom lessons, online resources, and practical workshop sessions.

Two women construction students stand smiling in a workshop, both wearing black hoodies and work trousers. One holds a microphone as they talk about the Women in Construction course.

🌟 Meet Iona & Holly

A quick look into life on Kelvin’s Women in Construction course.

Iona and Holly share why they chose an all-women class, what surprised them about trying different trades, and how supportive and welcoming the lecturers and classmates are.

A brilliant insight into building confidence — and discovering new skills.

View on YouTube

Transcript

Transcript – Iona & Holly: Women in Construction

Iona & Holly:  I’m Iona. I’m Holly. We’re doing the Women in Construction course.

Iona:  I chose this course because I felt I’d be more comfortable in an all-women class, instead of always worrying that the boys might be doing better or that I was falling behind.

Holly:  I wanted to start off with a woman's class.

Iona:  I came straight from school, found out about it from a careers advisor. I looked at mechanics at first. After time looking through stuff, I then chose construction because I feel like I'd have more options.

Holly:  Coming out of school, I'd done a year of art, but I just felt that it wasn't for me. I started looking into construction courses and then I found this.

Iona:  Bricklaying surprised me. I didn't think I'd like that at all. It's probably one of my favourite things. Bricklaying's just very hands-on. I'm always busy. I don't need to ask for help that often. Just kind of easy to understand.

Holly:  Bricklaying also surprised me because I'd never tried it before and I thought it was going to be really hard, but it's actually quite easy. I really like joinery as well.

Iona:  I fully recommend this course. It's comfortable, it's easy to make friends. The lecturers are all very nice, all good, all-inclusive, very good at helping. I'm rarely stuck for too long. 

Holly:  You've always got someone around you that's going to help you. Your peers just ask for help and they'll help you. Everyone's going to get stuck at some point, but there's always someone there.

Entry requirements

There are no formal qualifications required, however applicants should have:

✅ A genuine interest in construction and hands-on learning.

✅ The motivation to gain new skills and progress to an apprenticeship or related employment.

✅ A commitment to attend both classroom and workshop sessions.

ℹ️ Due to Health & Safety, Awarding Bodies stipulations or Legislation set by Governing Bodies - you must be 16 years old at the start of this course.

ℹ️ If you have already completed an NQ Construction Pre-Apprenticeship course, you are not eligible to  apply.

ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language

  • you need to have SQA ESOL National 5 (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)
  • If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.

Career Opportunities

Women entering the construction sector have access to a wide range of growing and well-paid careers.

Possible career paths include:

🪚 Joinery or Carpentry Apprentice

🧱 Bricklayer or Multi-Trade Operative

🏗 Construction Site Assistant or Trainee Technician

🧰 Health & Safety or Environmental Compliance Assistant

🏢 Project Support or Administrative Roles within Construction Firms

With experience and further qualifications, learners can progress into Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Site Supervision, or Construction Technology roles.

The construction industry increasingly values diversity and offers mentorship, training, and leadership opportunities for women to thrive.

Future prospects

After successfully completing the course, you’ll have gained practical trade skills, industry knowledge, and employability experience. You’ll be ready to:

  • Apply for a Modern Apprenticeship in construction or a specific trade.
  • Progress to higher-level construction programmes at Glasgow Kelvin College.
  • Seek entry-level work in a wide range of roles across the construction and built environment sector.

Real Industry Connections

Glasgow Kelvin College works closely with local employers, apprenticeship providers, and industry partners to help women gain experience and connections in the sector.

As construction continues to grow, employers are committed to increasing diversity and providing supportive environments for women. With the right training and encouragement, you can build a long-term, successful career in construction — from the workshop to management level.

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