Attendees at the Women Installers Together event in London in July 2022

Positivity shines at Women Installers Together event

Tradeswomen from all around the UK got together at the Women Installers Together (WIT) event in London earlier this month.

The unique WIT event is a whole, structured day with professional speakers – Hattie Hasan MBE as MC and ex-fighter pilot Mandy Hickson – as well as speakers from the floor and round-table discussions. It gives tradeswomen a rare opportunity to meet and talk with their peers.

With women in skilled trades accounting for only around 1 per cent of all tradespeople, this event is the only opportunity for many to meet others who share their unique experiences. And although almost one-quarter of all women would be interested in a career in skilled trades, according to a recent survey, this doesn’t translate into numbers in the industry, and attrition is often high.

During the round-table discussions, the issues identified by many were equality, pay inequality, cost of training, ‘banter’, lack of fit-for-purpose women’s workwear, and lack of suitable provision for women on site. But equality is by far the most important, they said.

“This was our first full event since lockdown and to be in a room together, and feel the energy in the room, was just great, says Hattie, founder of Stopcocks Women Plumbers, Women Installers Together and Register of Tradeswomen.

“We set ourselves very high goals with these events and this time we really feel we’ve achieved them. We can build on this momentum now, thanks to the fantastic support of our sponsors and allies.”

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