Celebrating Women in the Trades Industry.
Over the last 20 years, the number of women working has steadily increased. However, only a small portion work in the skilled trades industry. A recent study found that only 2% of plumbers and 0.5% of heating engineers were female. This is despite there being no gender requirements for skilled trades roles. Depending on which trade you’re looking at, men often out-number women by at least ten to one. Currently, there is a huge demand for female traders. A 2018 survey by the Federation of Master Builders found more than a third of Londoners would prefer a female tradesperson. However, a third fewer Londoners would encourage their daughters to pursue a career in construction than their sons. So, why is it that men are more likely to enter the trades than women, despite the push in recent years for gender equality?
‘Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing’ – Katherine Johnson.
Unfortunately, women face many barriers to working in any field. This is especially the case in the trades industry. Sometimes, the prospect of training, joining an apprenticeship or working in a male dominated industry can be quite intimidating. Young women are often encouraged to train for roles that are gender specific. They're often supplied with information about these gender specific roles when leaving school and rarely challenged to break the mould. Education is a key area for improvement when it comes to seeing more women in the trades industry. Plumbers and heating engineers are not your typical job opportunities for women. Even now, in 2021, there is a lot of stigma around women working in these roles. Young girls are often discouraged from aspiring to roles such as these and are often met by glass ceilings.
Issues young women face when considering a career in the trades industry.
A lack of role models for young women as they enter college or apprenticeships to train in these trades is also considered to be a barrier. Now more than ever, it is important that the next generation of workers are better informed and encouraged to take on a variety of job roles available to them. They need to see women thriving in these roles. There is no reason why a woman could not lead a successful career in any chosen field, including as a skilled trades person. There's no reason why young girls should not be able to break these glass ceilings in any field. Some aspects of plumbing and heating engineering can be more physical than others. Yes, there are still some that would argue the point of manual labour is too hard for a woman. Shifting boilers around or pulling pipes apart could be more physically difficult for women but not impossible when trained correctly. There is no real reason why this would be an issue.
Opportunities for women in the trades industry.
Job security is possibly one of the most appealing factors of being a tradesperson. Everyone needs a plumber or heating engineer at some point in their lives. The trade industries allow for good salaries, varied and flexible working hours and great career progression. You don’t need a degree and the potential for being your own boss and owning your own company seems more attainable than in some professions. This requires intensive and regular training. Skilled trade careers such as plumbing, carpentry or working as an electrician are high demand jobs that will always be needed. With more and more customers requesting a female tradesperson to complete a job, the opportunities are endless.
The importance of welcoming women into the trade industry.
Firstly, there is a shortage of people coming through the labour market: male or female. We want to be encouraging a new generation of trades people to come through and contribute their perspective to the roles. Encouraging diversity allows the industry to pick the best from across the board and make it easier for generations to come. Women could also bring different skill sets to the trades and be able to reach more specific markets. For example, women living on their own might feel more comfortable with tradeswomen entering their home or doing their plumbing and heating work – this allows for new businesses opportunities within the trade, which are always a positive thing.
Growing demand for women in the trades industry.
The demand for the number of women in trades has grown rapidly in the past few years, with campaigns being drawn up to entice them to train in industries that they may not have previously considered. All industries need a diverse workforce to provide the most comprehensive service possible. Yet, it seems that women aren’t applying for trade jobs in the same quantity as their male counterparts. In these largely male dominated environments, it is understandable why women are still apprehensive to train for this. There is increased demand for women in the trades industry, but there is still a lot of work to be done. As with everything, there is always room for improvement.
We need you!
Are you a working tradeswoman? Do you work in the plumbing and heating sector? It is integral that our industry strives to be inclusive and diverse. We would love to talk to you about your thoughts of how the trades industry could be more inclusive. Drop us an email at socialteam@mrcentralheating.co.uk and we will get back to you. Alternatively, DM us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to find out more.
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