We are encouraging women to try their hand at plumbing, bricklaying and carpentry as part of a drive to increase the number of females within our trades’ workforce.
We are running a taster day on 8 September at South Devon College, Paignton, to help women decide if a career in a trade might be for them.
The college’s tutors and LiveWest tradespeople will help women try various activities such as soldering pipes and building a wall.
The event will be open to women with a variety of experience and age levels including those who have no experience at all.
The day will enable both LiveWest customers and members of the wider community to gain an insight into several trades and potentially kick-start a career in the housing sector.
Attendees of the taster day will also be able to learn more about our apprenticeship programme, which prepares people to enter the skilled trade industry.
Liane Sheppard, Director of Property Services, said: “Women are not well represented in skilled trades and we want to address that by giving them opportunities at LiveWest.
“We have some great female role models already working across our trades, but we want more.
“We want to empower more women to pursue a trades career.
“The taster day will be a relaxed, fun look at a number of trades and the chance to have a go to see if you like it.
“What we have found in the past is that if females are empowered to try out these trades, the results can be phenomenal.
“LiveWest is committed to welcoming female colleagues to our trades and this could be the start of an exciting journey for those interested in launching or changing their careers.”
Following the taster day, we will be recruiting several apprentices in a range of trades across the organisation.
Tracy Perkin is a gas engineer at LiveWest having completed a career change at the age of 40.
She applied for an apprenticeship 18 months ago and has thrived ever since.
Plymouth-based Tracy said: “I am in the second year of my apprenticeship and it is the best thing that could have happened to me. It has literally changed my life.
“And it is all thanks to LiveWest for believing in me and giving me the platform to show I can do this.
“Our customers are great, and I get lots of comments about how fantastic it is that a woman has come to look at their boiler.
“What I hope it will do is make people think and consider a career path regardless of gender and age.
“Luckily for me, LiveWest don’t hold any barriers and welcome people whatever their age or gender.”
Tracy encourages fellow females to have a go at the taster day to see if a trades career is the right path for them.
Tracy added: “I am a practical person so the best way for me to learn is have a go at things. I have learnt so much already. If you are not a classroom person, on the job training is an excellent way to learn.”