G
ender equality in Britain has come a long way in the past couple of decades, bringing the national averages of numbers of men versus women in employment nearly level. Sadly, however, this equality does not extend to the electrical trades. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that about 98 per cent of people employed in the electrical industry in 2010 were men, and of the two per cent that were women, only a fraction were contractors. The figures are just as dismal for younger generations entering the industry, with NICEIC figures showing that in 2007-08 women made up just one per cent of electrotechnical apprentice starters. Despite these disheartening figures, a career in the electrotechnical industry can be both fulfilling and accommodating for women. Jayne McFarlane, who works for Intertest in Slough, has been an electrician and electrical consultant for more than 27 years and has no regrets. “Once you are trained and qualified you have a skill for life, whether you are male or female,” she says. “Women considering this career should go for it. Through my apprenticeship I became a confident woman and developed confidence in my abilities.” Now focusing on testing and consultancy, McFarlane says her job is also flexible enough to juggle with having a family. She is also keen to debunk myths used to justify the low numbers of women in the industry. “This is not a strength-based job,” she says. “Sure, there is an element of fitness needed, but what’s important is having the ability to think on your feet.” Electrical designer Caroline Bell says she experienced such prejudices when she entered the trade 12 years ago because her employer at the time didn’t think it appropriate to have her onsite, due to her shy disposition and gender. “You need to prove you are good and at the same level as the men,” she says. Now working for Rugby-based Morgan Sindall Electrical Services, she believes she is finally being treated as an equal. Both McFarlane and Bell believe opportunities in the electrical trades have to be presented to young women while they are still at school, providing them with a chance to make early decisions and associate it as being a viable career option.
the number of potential apprentices,” says SummitSkills chief executive Keith Marshall. “In theory, this will create a bigger pool of people with higher grades which may, in fact, benefit women because they tend to have higher grades than men,” he adds. “However, the challenge remains the perception of the industry.”
Paying off Anthony Cartwright of AJC Electrical Services in Wallasey, Merseyside, took on his first female apprentice eight years ago and says other contractors should do likewise. “Gender is not an issue; what you need are apprentices who are interested,” he says. “You need that spark – boy or girl – then they just blossom.” There are also business advantages for firms recruiting a diverse workforce that includes women. “Public sector organisations and corporations with robust equal opportunities policies look favourably on firms that can demonstrate a diverse workforce when bidding for work,” says Yasmin Damree-Ralph, equality and diversity officer electrical at training provider JTL. “Women are also very popular with female customers who are on their own or who come from ethnic groups that object to having men in the house.” Female electricians Leah Burman and Christine Vaghela noticed this gap in the market and decided to set up women-only firm Elecchicks. Both were working in other industries but, after doing a bit of research and realising the potential untapped business opportunity, decided to train as electricians. Since qualifying and setting up their firm in 2010, they’ve had very positive reactions. “We’re not saying we are better than men,” says Burman. “We just want people to have a choice.” Elecchicks, based in Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, is regularly consulted by female entrepreneurs wanting advice on becoming electricians and starting a business. “Women considering the profession should go for it. We were welcomed with open arms. Women can do this job,” says Vaghela. > Françoise Snobel is a freelance journalist specialising in the electrical industry
Confronting the issue NICEIC has recently launched its Jobs for the Girls campaign to raise awareness about the need for more women in the industry and to work in partnership with key industry organisations to take practical steps to closing the gender gap. “This campaign will challenge stereotypes and promote opportunities for women in the industry,” says NICEIC chief executive officer Emma McCarthy. “We need to make sure the message gets out there to women who are thinking of a career in the electrical trades. This is a fantastic industry to be in and anyone can have a lifelong fulfilling career.” For both genders, the recession has made breaking into the industry even more competitive. SummitSkills – the Sector Skills Council for the building services engineering sector – believes women in particular may be adversely affected by a knock-on effect – less recruitment of new operatives and apprentices, and those made redundant being the first to be re-employed. Then, of course, there is the rise in tuition fees and the effect that will have on apprenticeships and training. “As the impact of the increase in tuition fees becomes a reality, and more young people are unable or unwilling to go to university, this will drive up
www.niceic.com
p40-41 women in industry.NEW.indd 41
> FACTS OF THE MATTER • Nearly half (47 per cent) of female homeowners admit to feeling intimidated when having to deal with a male sparky; • 63 per cent of 16 to 24-year-old women are more interested in learning a skilled trade than a profession; • The top trades women want to learn are electrician (35 per cent), carpenter (21 per cent), plumber (20 per cent), builder (10 per cent) and farrier (6 per cent). Least popular is a bricklayer (1 per cent); • 50 per cent of women would feel more comfortable if faced with a female contractor; • 31 per cent say they are more likely to trust a woman’s opinion over a man’s; • 11 per cent say they’ll only have a man in the house if they’re not alone; • More than a quarter (26 per cent) say it would make a refreshing change to see a woman in charge of the tools. Source: NICEIC
NICEIC Connections Spring 2011 41
1/4/11 09:49:57