#DO THE LIFT THING
We’re elevating tradeswomen to help tackle the trade skills gap and encourage more women to choose a trade profession.
With only 2% of UK tradespeople being women, we committed to uncovering the barriers preventing women from entering trade professions through in-depth research, to help the sector better target and recruit an untapped workforce.
Our Women in Trade research revealed that girls leaving school still feel excluded from the Trade industry. The data shows that half of girls surveyed between 16-18 years old believe boys receive more opportunities to enter the sector than they do.
When asked why they would avoid a Trade career, 16–18-year-old girls said their top three reasons were a lack of information provided by their school (37%), and the feeling that the industry is too male-dominated (27%) or too intimidating (23%). This was followed by a lack of apprenticeship options (21%) and the concern that they weren’t physically strong enough (19%).
The survey also reveals a critical lack of role models for girls to look up to in the sector, with three-quarters of 16-to-18-year-olds saying they’re unaware of any women currently working as a tradesperson. Over half of all respondents who considered a career in the industry believe seeing more women in Trade would have convinced them to pursue it.
Working with internationally acclaimed photographer, Sane Seven, we’re elevating ten women trade professional role models, in a group and individual photos and videos, to symbolise a new movement of women in trades. By elevating these tradeswomen role models in our social media and other communications, we’re aiming to help lift the barriers to more girls and women entering the trades.
All ten of the tradeswomen featured share their ‘lift moments’ – why they love working in their professions.
Get on the tools with funding to cover apprenticeship training
We have pledged £1 million in England to support the trades by funding trade apprentices through the Government’s Transfer to Transform* programme.
We’re currently funding trade apprentices across a variety of trades including carpentry, scaffolding, painting and decorating, plumbing, and electricians amongst others. In 2024, we committed to building a better balance in the trades by encouraging more women to take up the funding - to date, we have only two women who have taken up the funding compared to over 100 men. This presents a great opportunity for our TradePoint members to obtain the funding to cover the cost of training a new apprentice or upskilling themselves or an employee.
How to apply for apprenticeship funding in England
To make the funding process as simple as possible for all applications, we are working with Transfer to Transform hubs around the country. Once they have received an application, they share it with us to confirm we are willing to provide the funding.
We’d love to see more of our TradePoint members apply for our funding and over the coming months, you’ll be seeing more information about the funding scheme in store.
Our Women in Trade research revealed that girls leaving school still feel excluded from the Trade industry. The data shows that half of girls surveyed between 16-18 years old believe boys receive more opportunities to enter the sector that they do.
When asked why they would avoid a Trade career, 16–18-year-old girls said their top three reasons were a lack of information provided by their school (37%), and the feeling that the industry is too male-dominated (27%) or too intimidating (23%). This was followed by a lack of apprenticeship options (21%) and the concern that they weren’t physically strong enough (19%).
The survey also reveals a critical lack of role models for girls to look up to in the sector, with three-quarters of 16-to-18-year-olds saying they’re unaware of any women currently working as a tradesperson. Over half of all respondents who considered a career in the industry believe seeing more women in Trade would have convinced them to pursue it.
We want to attract more women into trade professions and that starts at school. Through our funding of trade apprentices and research into the barriers preventing more girls from becoming trade professionals, we hope to create a more equitable future for women in Trade.
How to apply for apprenticeship funding
To make the funding process as simple as possible for all applications, we are working with Transfer to Transform hubs around the country. Once they have received an application, they share it with us to confirm we are willing to provide the funding.
We’d love to see more of our TradePoint members apply for our funding and over the coming months, you’ll be seeing more information about the funding scheme in store.
Interested in securing funding for an apprenticeship for yourself or for an employee?
Find out more from the list of regional partners around the country in the list below:
Solent Business and Skills Solutions www.solentbusinessandskills.com/transfer-to-transform/
Oxfordshire LEP www.oxfordshirelep.com
Apprenticeships Norfolk Levy Support Scheme www.apprenticeshipsnorfolk.org/levy-support-scheme
Western Training Provider Network - West of England www.wtpn.org.uk
Workwhile – London www.workwhile.org.uk
Shared Apprenticeships - Cornwall Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Swindon & Wiltshire, West of England www.sharedapprenticeships.com
Apprenticeships Suffolk www.apprenticeshipssuffolk.org
Yorkshire Apprenticeship Service www.yorkshireapprenticeshipservice.co.uk
*Please note the Transfer to Transform funding scheme is currently only available to apprentices in England