North Construction & Building is taking its sponsorship of the Central Coast Mariners up a notch.
The company will be the inaugural Foundation and Official Executive Partner of the Mariners A-League Women’s team and Official Partner of the Central Coast Mariners Academy this season.
The partnership includes a separate community component which incorporates player participation in North’s workforce development efforts, specifically around promoting careers for women in the construction industry in regional NSW.
Kyah Simon, who signed with the Mariners this season, will be North’s women in construction Workforce Development Ambassador, an opportunity made possible by the NSW Government Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program (IIP) Grant.
“North has been a long-time supporter of the Mariners (and) as a business (has) been very involved in promoting women in construction,” North Managing Director Matthew Cook said.
“Combining these two efforts in this unique opportunity is very exciting.
“There are great synergies with this collaboration given female professional athletes have had to overcome many of the same biases and challenges that exist in the construction industry.
“Kyah’s involvement in our women in construction program means the many amazing career opportunities for women in our sector will reach a much broader audience and have a deeper impact given her own personal journey and professional success.”
The NSW Government Women in Construction Industry Innovation Grant was established to support industry initiatives that encourage female participation and retention in the construction industry throughout the whole supply chain.
North was awarded the grant earlier this year and looks forward to Simon’s involvement in the many activities planned to promote women in construction throughout regional NSW.
As part of the grant, North will recruit a workforce development co-ordinator to assist in the roll-out of a robust workforce development plan that not only incorporates the many programs North already offers such as mentoring, workplace experience, student site immersion and teacher workshops, but also new initiatives such as regional school visits, regional career expo participation, parent-focused events, mature female engagement outreach and multiple regional road shows.
“With this exclusive partnership with Kyah, we can take our women in construction initiatives to the next level, reaching a much bigger and broader audience, to further support female engagement with the construction industry,” Cook said.