Women continue to be woefully under-represented in building services trades. Andrew Brister reports on a new initiative that aims to break down barriers.

Heard the one about the female electrician from Yorkshire? No, this is not a sexist joke. Thanks to a new joint initiative from industry and the European Union, South Yorkshire's plumbing and electrical industries are set to benefit from the recruitment of up to 44 women.

Called Breaking the Mould, the one-off project aims to improve the employment and training opportunities available to females in the South Yorkshire area. It will allow women between the ages of 16-24 to embark on a career in the building services engineering sector via Advanced Apprenticeships in electrical installation, plumbing and engineering maintenance.

Breaking the Mould is jointly funded by industry training body JTL and the European Social Fund. JTL is working closely with employers in the South Yorkshire area to encourage them to take on female apprentices and break down the traditional image of electricians and plumbers. JTL is also looking to support employers by helping them to develop equality and diversity policies.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Angela Smith, MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, said: "Breaking the Mould will undoubtedly open up wonderful opportunities for women in Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire area. I welcome any initiative that looks to further close the gap between men and women in the workplace and congratulate JTL and the European Social Fund for their efforts in opening up the building services engineering sector to more young women."

It is a very big gap to close. Typically, less than 1% of new entrants to Advanced Apprenticeships in building services trades are women, although numbers have been rising slowly in recent years. JTL reports 20 female recruits in the year 2003/04 (16 electricians and four plumbers), rising to 29 in 2004/05 and 35 so far in 2005/06.

As a firm that has taken on a woman, I would advise others to consider opening their doors

JTL's target for 2005/06 is only 39, so this one-off project will more than double the numbers of females joining the ranks. "As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering highly-skilled craftspeople, we strive to ensure the sector recognises the need for equal opportunities," said JTL's chief executive Denis Hird. "Breaking the Mould is one of a number of projects developed to increase female entrants into the sector and we hope that it will be well received by employers in the South Yorkshire area."

LJ Monks is a Yorkshire-based m&e contractor that has had nothing but positive experiences since taking on its first female electrical apprentice, Leanne Bateman, in 2004. "Leanne's application was particularly strong as she had obviously done her homework and was already well aware of the career choices open to her," said Caroline Hackney, human resources co-ordinator at LJ Monks. "She was academically bright but wanted a more hands-on job and felt that an apprenticeship was the best choice for her."

"I wanted something varied and that would open doors for me in the future," said Leanne. "I decided to become an electrician and it's turned out to be a great move for me - I'm enjoying every minute."

Last year a report from the Equal Opportunities Commission said that 80% of girls in schools said they might be interested in a "non-traditional" job such as construction. It is up to employers to stimulate that interest.

Amie Darnell, D R Darnell, Electrical Installations

Amie Darnell has followed in her Dad’s footsteps, qualifying as an electrician in the family firm D R Darnell Electrical Installations. “I wanted to do something different and not many women become electricians – I saw it as a challenge,” explains the 21 year old.

"Part of me wanted to prove that women are as good as men and that they can be good electricians too. Now I wouldn’t change it for the world; I think I would be too confined in an office."

Toni Caple, MKM Electrical Engineering

Toni is an electrical apprentice with MKM, where her brother Des Caple is managing director. “As a small employer that recruited a woman apprentice, I would advise any employer to consider opening their doors to more female entrants,” said Des.

“Toni’s gender has no bearing on her ability to carry out tasks and if anything, she brings added benefits to the business. A number of my domestic customers, for example, much prefer having a woman working in their home.”

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor