Supporting female students in Ireland: what is specific to our context?

Women in Construction Ireland (WICI) launched in September 2024 and provides tailored programmes and resources to support construction companies in attracting, retaining, and empowering female employees. It's a growing consultancy and network with an active membership community — worth following on LinkedIn and checking wici.ie for events. WICI holds regular networking events, including an inaugural Dublin event in January 2025, and has been building out an advisory board of senior industry women.

Financial support and apprenticeships

The SOLAS Gender-Based Bursary provides €2,666 to employers for each registered apprentice from the minority gender — in construction, that means female apprentices. It covers all new registrations and applies to any national apprenticeship programme where one gender makes up more than 80% of participants.

The Access and Inclusion Bursary from the National Apprenticeship Office provides up to €3,000 per learner to support costs associated with travel, accommodation, equipment, and preparation for training — available to people from under-represented groups entering apprenticeships in construction, engineering, electrical, and motor industries.