ACCIONA, consistent with its commitment to professionalizing and developing female talent in the construction sector, has certified and hired an initial group of 34 women from the Coquimbo Region in masonry and plumbing skills as part of the Women Middel Management Program (WMP) implemented at the La Serena construction site in Chile.

In addition, ten of these women have been selected based on their performance and skills on the project to continue their training through a Middle Management course at the professional studies center INACAP, with the aim of expanding their knowledge in construction techniques, leadership, safety, prevention, quality, and environmental management. 

The comprehensive career development plan for women promoted by ACCIONA includes pathways ranging from initial training for workers without prior experience to their progression as forewomen or future supervisors. This is made possible through an accelerated training system supported by certification bodies and top-level technical and training institutions such as SENCE and INACAP.

This program represents the evolution of previously successful model implemented at the Marga Provincial Hospital, where an all-women team carried out the construction of the hospital´s nursery facility. Some of the supervisors who worked on the project will now join the La Serena Hospital works to share their knowledge and experience with the newly certified professionals.

This long-term comprehensive career plan developed by ACCIONA positions La Serena Hospital as a benchmark project at international level for training and incorporating women into infrastructure sector.

JOINT EFFORT

The training process to facilitate women´s entry into the construction workforce at La Serena Hospital has been a joint effort between ACCIONA, the National Training and Employment Service (SENCE) – under the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare – and the Technical Certification Body ACONCAP.

The Chilean Ministry of Public Works, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, awarded ACCIONA a 15-year concession contract for the design, construction, and operation of La Serena Hospital, in the Coquimbo Region.

The healthcare complex will be located on a site of over 125,000m² and will feature 668 beds, 15 operating rooms, 85 outpatient consultation rooms, six comprehensive delivery wards, and an emergency department, in addition to specialized services such as neonatal care and oncology. In total, more than 750,000 people in the Coquimbo Region will benefit from this new reference hospital for northern.