LADIES FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS AT MET-UK

Women plug the gap in the market for female plumbers

A group of lucky ladies have just completed a technical certificate in plumbing at Met-UK.

The ladies have just finished their evening course and have achieved a City and Guilds 6129 Level 2 Technical Certificate in Basic Plumbing Skills for Women.

The course was funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) as part of the gender contract, initially helping women gain a qualification in an non traditional area for the sex and becoming partly qualified plumbers.

In the past 4 years alone, over 2000 people from all backgrounds have successfully changed direction with Met-UK, the UK’s largest and fastest growing technical training provider.

Andy Macdonald, Managing Director of MET-UK, says,

“The ladies have shown just what they can achieve in a traditionally male dominated industry. The have acheived extremely high standards and our partner employers are really impressed. This goes to show that they can make a real difference in the market place”.

Many of the women found out about the course when they attended a Women’s DIY course at Met-UK. Tina Bell of Rotherham found out about the DIY course and thought it would be really useful.

“You always end up calling someone out when in reality it’s a really simple job. I found the course really useful, so when I found out about the plumbing course, I signed up straight away.

“I wanted a new bathroom but didn’t want to pay anyone to fit it, so the course seemed perfect as a way to save money and learn new skills. I’ve got the confidence to do it myself now,” says Tina.

The course ran for two evenings a week and Tina took annual leave to cover her last assessments and exams.

The course attracted women from many different backgrounds, all of whom had varying reasons for taking the course.

Jill Allerton had been running her own fashion design and manufacturing business for 11 years. Three years ago she found a change in the industry. “It was getting more and more difficult to make money. I had to gradually get rid of my workers and I was working 80 to 100 hours a week just to try and stay afloat. China was just too cheap and I couldn’t compete with that.

“I realised I had to find another career, but I’m terribly dyslexic so needed to consider something practical and plumbing seemed perfect.

“I’ve found it a very positive experience and it’s been nice to meet other people. I’m hoping to go onto do the NVQ  to gain the full qualification at level 2 and work as a full-time plumber,” says Jill.

For some, the course has been life changing. Helen Louise Schofield is a single mum of two. She was previously working in a care home, but had to leave the job because she couldn’t get carers in the evenings for her children (the eldest has ADHD). The job was very low paid and she fancied a career change.

After having interviews at the local Job Centre, plumbing seemed to be the perfect choice.

“The course has been brilliant. The practical side is great and I can’t wait to get into the workshop. I really need to do the next part of the course now to become fully qualified and start work as a plumber.

“My kids go to Catholic school and they say prayers for me everyday to pass my exams. They get so excited when they find out I’ve passed – they jump around and they’re so proud,” says Helen.

Unfortunately, the NVQ part of the course hasn’t been government funded, leaving the women trying to find a way of funding the next part of their course to enable for them to achieve their goals and become fully qualified plumbers in an industry which is mostly dominated by males.

For more information, contact Lauren Milner: 0800 542 72 01