Construction completes on new sustainable Single Living Accommodation building on the Army estate
5 December 2023Breaking Down Barriers for Women’s Dual Careers in Construction and Football
REDS10and Hull City Ladies FC welcome young girls to launch of new dual cxareer pathway
Reds10 welcomed players and their families to an open day under the ‘Reds10 x Hull City Ladies Football Club (HCLFC) Dual Career Pathway’ initiative at their Driffield factory.
Young women pursuing both football and construction careers are being offered a sustainable future in East Yorkshire.
Hull City Ladies’ U14s and U16s had the opportunity to experience what a career at Reds10 would look like and how it can be integrated with playing professional football. Players and parents toured the factory, gaining insights into future plans and developments.
This innovative programme enables women to pursue their football dreams with HCLFC while concurrently developing a parallel career in construction through apprenticeships hosted by Reds10. The collaboration addresses a significant gap in support and employment opportunities for women aspiring to prioritise football, while requiring a stable career for financial support during training and beyond.
Players, parents, and HCLFC staff heard from Carol Thomas BEM, Hull City Ladies’ Club Ambassador and pioneer of women’s football, who shared her fascinating story and participated in a Q&A, imparting her insight and sharing valuable experiences. With her exceptional contributions to the sport, Thomas motivated the players to strive for excellence and push the boundaries of what is achievable in sports and construction.
“I am so happy to see this opportunity from Reds10, who are fully supporting young women in both football and construction. This is a pioneering initiative and one that I am proud to be a part of."
“We are a long way off equality in football compared to the men’s game, but giving young women these opportunities to make a living in an exciting and interesting career, while their love of football is being supported, is a huge stride forward.”
Reds10 CEO, Matt Bennion, spoke on a range of topics, including Reds10's beginnings, exclusive opportunities for HCLFC players, and the significance of apprenticeships.
“For too long, construction has failed to attract enough young people, particularly women. We are proud of our investment in apprenticeships and thrilled to create an innovative pathway for young women through our 'Breaking Down Barriers' partnership with HCLFC."
“This Dual Career Pathway provides women with a flexible working pattern and study time to gain qualifications and work experience through one of several construction apprenticeships, all while managing intensive training required to be a competitive footballer.”
Jessie Shipley, player for HCLFC and Quality Control Manager for Reds10, also shared her experience, discussing the benefits of an employer who understands football and accommodates dual careers.
“For women in football, it is not yet possible to rely on the game as a full-time career. Having an employer who not only understands my training schedule but who actively encourages and supports me is invaluable. With flexible working hours, I am able to manage my time so that I don’t feel like either area of my life is suffering.”
"I'm pleased to announce the launch of our new Dual Career Pathway in association with Reds10. The goal is to compete at the highest levels of football, and Reds10's understanding and support of players transitioning into part-time or full-time football is crucial to our success."
"The Dual Career Pathway is designed to give every female player the opportunity to excel in football while offering opportunities away from the field. Reds10 shares our vision, providing apprenticeships and job opportunities while supporting education and football careers.”
Reds10 currently have opportunities for apprentices across the Driffield factory, including placements for aspiring designers, joiners, supply chain managers, warehouse operatives, health, safety & environmental technicians, quality control officers and technical writers.
For opportunities with Reds10, please contact placements@reds10.com
To learn more about the Dual Career Pathway and how businesses or players can get involved, please contact info@hullcityladies.com
Photography copyright: Kevin Greene Photography
