Female Heating and Gas Engineer
In the UK, women make up 2% of plumbers and 0.5% of heating engineers. With a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the industry, it is imperative that more women are encouraged to take up these roles. Yet it seems that many are put off by the stereotype of a male dominated career path and the myths that surround these positions.
It is important that children see female role models in all sectors of the workforce. However, this can be hard to achieve in a male dominated industry, especially when it comes to skilled trades like female heating and gas engineers. Often, school leavers are encouraged to pursue careers in sectors that are considered more ‘feminine’, such as hairdressing or social care, rather than construction and engineering. This could be due to the fact that these industries offer lower salaries and can therefore be a less attractive option for women.
Having more females in these industries can help to break down gender stereotypes and encourage young people into jobs that they may not have otherwise considered. It can also help to close the gender pay gap by bringing more women into skilled trades through apprenticeship schemes and trainee work. However, the number of women in apprenticeships is still disproportionately low to their number in other sectors, suggesting that there are barriers beyond salary that prevent some from pursuing these careers.
Advice From a Female Heating and Gas Engineer
Becoming a gas engineer is an excellent opportunity for women, particularly as the job offers great flexibility. For example, if you have children to drop off and pick up from school, working as a heating engineer means that you can fit your hours around this commitment. This can be crucial for many busy mums who are looking to balance work and family life.
Aside from the flexibility, a career as a heating engineer can be extremely rewarding. It is a highly satisfying career and it is a genuine honour to be trusted with the safety of someone’s home and their loved ones. Moreover, it can be incredibly fulfilling to assist elderly and vulnerable customers and bring them peace of mind when their heating is not working properly or they have no hot water.
The industry is crying out for new people to help it cope with a looming skills gap and more and more current engineers are approaching retirement age. Consequently, the demand for new entrants is increasing, which presents a perfect opportunity for women to make their mark in the industry.
If you are thinking about becoming a heating engineer, there is no better time to consider it than now. It is an excellent career choice for both men and women, and it can be an incredibly fulfilling career with lots of opportunities for progression. To learn more about becoming a heating engineer, you can join our Facebook group where you can meet other trainees and professionals from the industry and get support on your journey. We also have a YouTube channel which is full of useful videos about getting into the trade, as well as tips on how to progress in your career as a heating and gas engineer.