Women in trade: what you need to know

It’s safe to say that the number of women working in the UK has been steadily increasing over the past 50 years, but only a small percentage of those working in skilled trades in the UK are women. And yet, while they may be in short supply, female tradespeople and women in construction are in greater demand than ever before.

A June 2022 survey by the Chartered Institute of Building revealed that a third of respondents said they would prefer to hire a female tradesperson. The most common reason was to support women in trade, but many also stated that they would feel more comfortable having a woman working in their home.

Ahead of Women in Trade Day 2026, how did our female Which? Trusted Traders get to where they are today, what challenges have they faced as women in a mostly male-dominated industry and what advice would they give to other women considering learning a skilled trade?

What is Women in Trade Day?

Women in Trade Day (WITD) falls on 15 June each year, and its goal is to empower and support women across a wide range of different trades. It’s the brainchild of Janet Kirlew, who founded Women in Trade magazine back in 2013. 

WITD was the first global event that recognised every woman who uses a tool to do their job. At first, Kirlew’s idea was to compile a list of female tradespeople to share with others, and then she found inspiration in real-life stories of those who worked in various trades. This is what grew into the Women in Trade magazine, and WITD came shortly after.

WITD is important today because it reminds us all how far we’ve come when it comes to women in trade but also highlights the barriers women still face every day. It is a celebration of the power of women and how important they are, no matter what trade they find themselves in. 

To get involved in 2026, send a photo of yourself holding your favourite tool to WITD with a blurb explaining why it’s important and what you use it for, or share your story on social media using the hashtags #WITD2026 and #removingblocks2026.

Getting started as a female tradesperson 

To start with, we asked our female Trusted Traders how they got started in their trade career. Many of them have taken a variety of routes, including through apprenticeships, taking courses, on-the-job training, and drawing on experience from non-trade roles.

For Kiomi Barritt, at Barritt Electrical, becoming an electrician was a natural step for her thanks to her family’s background: ‘My dad and brother are in the trade and I always knew I needed and wanted a physically active job,’ she said. ‘I enjoy the variety, and the physical and mental challenges of the role.’

Nicola Heys at Reliable Renewables shared her story, saying: ‘16 years ago, the trade I was in was building homes. Then my dad had terminal cancer and passed away at 60. I didn't want to run the business any more after my father passed.

‘I looked into renewables, and worked in Manchester as a salesperson and ended up as a national sales manager. When the business model changed, I decided to leave. I had learnt so much and I decided to work for myself, hiring my own salesman. Then I decided I wanted no salesman, and opted to pursue setting up with my business partner.’ 

As for some of our other Trusted Traders, several had tried other jobs before finding that working as a trader suited them best. 

That last point is a sentiment several of the women we spoke to shared. Many found their roles varied and rewarding. Tilly Taylor of DB Heating Ltd said: ‘I enjoy that it’s fast-paced and working for a good company with a great reputation, good team ethos, and working culture.’

Women in construction: a changing sector 

Women are currently far outnumbered by men in the trades. But the latest government data on women starting apprenticeships – one of the most popular recognised routes into the trades – is promising.

Further data reveals that in the 2022/23 academic year, 10% of those starting apprenticeships in the construction sector were female.

Even today, many people are still surprised to see women working in certain trades. Michelle Inder, director of GMI Aerials, has experience of this, although she notes that attitudes are changing:

‘Some men in the industry ask to speak to my boss,’ she said. ‘When I say I am the boss, they’re taken aback. It’s only some men, though – most men are modern and up to date now.’

Rebecca Paice, Locksmith, agrees: ‘It’s getting better as time goes on, but people always assume I'm the office lady who just takes calls. I've learnt to be firm and let the customer know that I can help them, and I know locks.

‘I've had a couple of co-workers who’ve felt they were better because they were males, but that has been rare, and I've been lucky enough to have worked with a great bunch of men who have felt females belong.’

Bridging the gap

Despite relatively good growth levels, the UK is currently experiencing a serious skills shortage, especially in the trade industry.

In a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce in Q1 2026, 71% of firms said they had problems recruiting people, rising to 81% in the construction sector. Certainly, pushing more people towards a role in the trades is one solution to this problem. But to really address this skills gap, it’s also essential that more women are encouraged to join the sectors in need – and part of that is celebrating those who are already paving the way!

Changing attitudes for the better

In spite of all the progress made, there’s still plenty that businesses and key figures in the industry can be doing to increase the number of female tradespeople working in the UK.

Our female Which? Trusted Traders are proof that trades is not just a man’s world these days.

And if you’re a woman considering learning a trade, our traders advise you to just go for it, because there’s plenty of support available. As Rebecca Paice says:

‘Know that there may be physical challenges because you are a female, but you can find ways that work for you. Always keep learning and strive to know more. The industry is always changing and having that drive to learn more will make you stand out.’

Allison Paing, director at A&R Design, adds: ‘Be committed to what you feel passionate about. Continue with your skills, and your talent will shine through regardless of who or what you are.’

What can small firms do for women in trade?

Small businesses can make a huge difference by eliminating any form of gender pay gap commonplace in other industries. On top of this, businesses should create an inclusive work environment and company culture where women feel comfortable working and training.

Finally, it’s helpful to implement support structures for different learning styles. Traditional methods of teaching are not for everyone, so speaking with potential new members of staff and how they work best can make the whole hiring and training process that much smoother for everyone.

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