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. Statistics from the ONS show that, in 2022 alone, three-quarters of women aged 16 to 64 were either  employed or looking for work, compared to just half that in 1972.

However, these same stats also show that, despite such fantastic growth, only a small percentage of those working in skilled trades in the UK are actually women. And yet, while they may be in short supply, female tradespeople and women in construction are in greater levels of 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, with the most common reason being as a way to support women in trade. But many also stated that they would feel more comfortable having a woman working in their home.

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

Getting started as a female tradesperson

To start with, we asked our female Trusted Traders how they got started in their trades career, with many taking a variety of unique routes into their roles, including through apprenticeships, taking courses, on-the-job training, and drawing on previous experience in other non-trade-based 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.’

As for some of our other Trusted Traders, several had tried other jobs before finding that working as a trader suited them best. Rebecca Paice, locksmith manager at Franchi plc, notes that: ‘When I was 20, I had been changing careers, from hospitality to nursing, and nothing stuck.'

‘My mum ended up doing some research and came across a locksmith apprenticeship. It took a month of her talking to me about it before I finally applied for my first apprenticeship, which I got. Next month it will be 15 years in the industry, and I learn something new every day.’

That last point is a sentiment that several of the women we spoke to shared, with many finding 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 constructing: A changing sector

Even though women are currently far outnumbered by men in the trades, the latest government data on women starting apprenticeships, which are one of the most popular recognised routes into trades, are proving promising.

Further ONS data reveals that in the 2020/21 academic year, 12% of those starting apprenticeships in the construction sector were female.

Alison Grant, from Inspiration Computers Ltd, says that her own experience mirrors this shift in growth, especially in IT:

‘Generally, women weren't encouraged to get involved in IT or coding 15 or 20 years ago,’ she said. 'But now, we work with our local council to promote coding courses for girls. That active promotion to younger women just wasn't there before.’

Yet, even in the modern day, many people are still surprised to see women working in certain trades. Michelle Inder, director of GMI Aerials Ltd, 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 are taken aback. Only some men, though – most men are modern and up to date now.’

Rebecca Paice agrees: ‘It is 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 have 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.’

Women in trade: A competitive advantage

Although there is still sexism towards female tradespeople, more and more evidence is showing that being a woman in a male-dominated world can help set you and your business apart from the competition.

Alison Grant points out that: ‘When we started the business in 2003, all the advertising connected to computing was quite masculine in blues and greens. We decided to do an advert in pink, with me – a female computer repairer – and it got a massive response because we were offering something different from everyone else.’

Bridging the gap

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

In a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses in August 2022, 82% of firms said they had problems recruiting people in the previous 12 months, with many pointing out that it was because they couldn’t find people with the relevant skills, qualifications and experience.

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.

The Women’s Trade Network is just one initiative focussed on this, launched in 2021 with the aim of increasing the number of female tradespeople working in the UK.

Alongside them, a range of organisations in the housing industry, including Peabody and the Chartered Institute of Housing, have also joined together to raise awareness of the opportunities trade careers can offer women and provide training, mentorship, and employment.

But is there more that small businesses can be doing in general to welcome more women in construction and skilled roles?

What can small firms do for women in trade?

As beneficial as it is to have dedicated networks out there to help women start a career in trade, it’s also the responsibility of small firms and businesses to help change attitudes and provide women with the opportunity to learn a trade.

With this in mind, small businesses can make a huge difference by offering unisex roles or even female-specific roles when advertising open positions, while also eliminating any form of gender pay gap commonplace in other industries.

On top of this, it’s on businesses to create an inclusive and anti-misogynistic work environment and company culture that women feel comfortable working and training in – equality in the workplace, after all, is something we’re all after.

Finally, it never hurts to look for ways to implement support structures to assist with different styles of learning. 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.

Women in trade: Changing attitudes for the better

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

For many businesses, this may certainly feel like a risk, but it’s on willing businesses to take this leap as the next step on the road to changing outdated attitudes. Our female Which? Trusted Traders are proof that it’s not just a man’s world!

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

‘Know that there will be physical challenges because you are a female but learn to find ways that work for you. We may not have the same strengths but learn to use your brain and find solutions to solve those issues. 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.’