No industry sector can afford to ignore half of the population from its workforce, yet the trades are doing pretty well at doing just that! As an example, only one in every 1,000 electrical contractors is female, making it one of the highest male orientated industries in the UK.
At M2 Mechanical we believe that women working in stereotypically male career paths will benefit not only the industry, but also customers and businesses. Here, we hear from Delta Whitehead, our rising young female electrical apprentice, about her experience with us, and as a woman entering the electrical industry…
What made you want to become an electrician?
I’ve always been interested in electrics since I was young. I’ve been going out on jobs and helping my dad since I was little, so my interest naturally started there.
How does your apprenticeship work?
I am an apprenticeship student at MK College and attend the course onsite there one day a week, then do the other four days of the working week employed at M2.
I’m currently in the first year of my electrical apprenticeship, on a four-year course.
We get tested at the end of every academic year, then the final AM2* Exam in my final year is the last unit of the electrical installation qualification that will mark me as a fully qualified electrician.
Are there many other women on your course?
No, I am the only woman on the course.
What has your experience been as a woman in a male-dominated industry?
It has it’s good and bad aspects. The other guys I work with are a good laugh, but sometimes it would be nice to have some other women there too.
I don’t feel like I’m treated any differently at work or college to be honest. We’re all just treated the same. Occasionally I may need some extra help, like with heavy lifting, but generally I feel like we’re all treated equally.
My experience with customers has mainly been positive. Admittedly, I have had the odd occasion where I’ve got a bad vibe from a client; that has tended to be from older men who have old fashioned views about women doing trades jobs like this.
I do remember a funny experience with an older lady customer. She was so delighted to have me there that she had a little talk with me. She was so nice and complimentary, and kept saying how much she liked having a woman doing her electrical work for a change.
What do you do at M2 Mechanical?
I’m learning on the job all the time but lately I’ve been doing electrical jobs taking down lights and have recently been introduced to cutting and stripping armoured cabling.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
I really enjoy learning new skills every day. No two days are ever the same, which keeps it fresh and exciting, and I enjoy meeting customers.
I feel that this apprenticeship was the best choice for me after getting the required grades in English and Maths at GCSE. I am a practical, hands-on person, and not a fan of academia so didn’t want to go to university. This apprenticeship gives me a qualification in a future trade, with all the practical experience I need to do it.
How is M2 Mechanical supporting you to achieve your career goals?
If I need any help, I am happy to speak up, but I do find M2 really supportive of me as one of the apprentice team and as their first tradeswoman.
What is your experience of the company & what would you say makes M2 Mechanical better than competitors?
I don’t have any experience of other companies, but with my dad being at M2, I knew some people here already and have seen over the years how things are done properly and run well.
I do feel like we’re well looked after and always have everything we need. It’s pretty standard in the industry for the engineers to have their our own tools, so there’s no expectation for them to be supplied, but we are all given a uniform and the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
What advice would you give to other women interested in doing what you are doing?
Go for it!
I remember how I had my doubts about entering such a male-dominated industry when I was in school so I can understand that it can be scary to take such a leap of faith. But, I have to say “go for it” because you’ve got nothing to lose. You’ll be treated equally in this day and age.
My parents, best friends, uncle who works at a university, and M2 Mechanical have all been really supportive to help me get where I am today.
Although I haven’t taken advantage of any grants or bursaries, I do know there are opportunities out there for women aspiring to get into the electrical industry and other trades that are worth looking at.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Be yourself! That was advice my mum gave me. She’s one of my biggest supporters and has always inspired me with her personal experiences and stories of her time in the Army and working as a teacher.
Tell us a bit more about yourself –
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy going out with friends, but I’m also a bit of a book worm and enjoy reading fiction, especially romance and murder mysteries.
I collect vinyl so love listening to music. I don’t really have a favourite type of music. My music taste ranges from current chart music to old soft punk, and indie bands like the Arctic Monkeys.
What do you want the future to look like – for you, M2 Mechanical, and your trade?
It’s early days in my career right now but I’m focused on becoming a fully qualified electrician in the next four years. After that, I see myself having a few years working on the job and getting experience onsite. I’m not sure what the future holds after that, but maybe I’d go into teaching to help more people into the industry.
A final word from M2 Mechanical Director, Karl Wright:
As Delta Whitehead, our sparky apprentice proves, the wise adage “‘start them young and raise them right” is arguably a mantra every company should adopt to build a highly skilled and diverse workforce for a successful business.
The research tells us that there is a massive demand for tradeswomen, and we hope that Delta’s story and more like it, encourages more female apprentices to engage with us and other companies like ours to help create a more level playing field for women in the trade industries in future.
To contact us about opportunities at M2 Mechanical, please email: [email protected]
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