At The Forefront Of Supporting Women In Our Industry

Only one in every 1,000 electrical contractors in the UK is a woman, which surely positions it as one of the most gender-biased industries around.

XS Training Ltd is at the forefront to support females accessing the electrical industry. With the rise of renewables and the next generation of electrical technologies; this is making our industry more attractive to both male and females.

Following extensive research, there is a massive demand for tradeswomen in the electrical industry. We need to encourage women to join the industry to cope with the demand.

The increase in female electrical apprenticeships overall in 2019/2020 saw 70% of those applying being taken on to the Electrical Installation Modern Apprenticeship.

There is clearly a growing realisation among young women that being an electrical professional is a viable career.

There are companies taking advantage of the high demand for female contractors such as Little Miss Electrical https://littlemisselectrical.co.uk. XS Training has supported part of their workforce, delivering the Online Level 3 NVQ and AM2 Training.

Why now is a great time for females to join the electrical industry

Lizzie Brand completed her Level 3 Electrical NVQ with XS Training and now works for Little Miss Electrical.

When we spoke with Lizzie she said;

“I previously worked in the commercial side of the trade but recently got a job offer with Little Miss Electrical. We mostly deal with domestic / commercial installations ranging from maintenance call outs to full rewires”.

 

What are the benefits of working for Little Miss Electrical?

“The jobs are local and therefore travelling is limited. Cathy who owns the company is an excellent electrician and I’ve learnt so much from her. I learnt more in 18 months I’ve been with Little Miss Electrical than I did in the 7 years on commercial sites”.

 

What are the benefits of being a female in the electrical trade?

“Some customers prefer a female working in their property as they feel safer. We just see ourselves as high-quality electricians and it doesn’t matter what environment we work in; we will supply the customer with a professional and quality job”.

No longer just a job for the boys

Historically, working in construction was a “man’s job” Judging by the numbers of females working and training in this sector, this outdated attitude still appears to dominate the industry as a whole. This is a fundamental reason why women are not choosing careers in what is perceived to be traditional male job roles.

It is hard to deny that people instinctively think of construction work as a ‘man’s job’. This attitude can only change with the help of the industry and training bodies such as XS Training Ltd.

It’s (past) time for equality and inclusion

Sexism is another deterrent for women in construction: research shows that more than half of female construction workers said they were treated worse than men because of their gender.

We need to educate the electrical industry and open up the discussions for equality and inclusion.

• Approximately 29% of UK adults would prefer a female electrician opposed to a male electrician, and 41% of woman have said they would feel safer in their homes with a female electrician.

• Opportunities for women in skilled trades are on the rise, with almost 6% currently reaping the benefits and breaking through the glass ceiling of the male-dominated industry.

• The current economic climate has left a lot of young people unsure about their careers and future, leading them to explore other routes to success.

• 63% of 16-24-year-old women polled said they would be more interested in learning a skilled trade rather than a profession because a skill stays with them for life. The longevity of a skilled trade is one of the most appealing aspects for everyone, due to the lucrative business and endless opportunities for all skills.

• Women are constantly climbing the management and business ladders in corporations, becoming CEOs and directors, ultimately breaking the stigma that it is a male-dominated profession. Will the trades sector be next? It’s important to help break down the cultural stereotypes that trades are for men only. It shouldn’t be about gender, but about being a skilled and competent tradesperson.