After some recent activity on Facebook and Twitter involving dispute over representation in the trade, Mica May from Stopcocks got in touch with this article reflecting some of the views expressed in the encounters.

Everyone likes to think they’re one of the good guys. We know there are plenty of you in our industry. So why do women plumbers, heating engineers and other tradeswomen feel the need to form our own groups? Why might a customer want to choose a tradeswoman?

Are you man enough to read on and find out more about what it’s like for women in trades?

We know it’s #NotAllMen. Some of our best friends are men and we get a lot of support from men, which we really value, but honestly, how come more men aren’t calling out the bad behaviour of the few? Here are two ‘discussions’ on Twitter just today.

Please note, one is between two different plumbing companies, one run by a man, who probably sees himself as a good guy, but doesn’t take kindly to being asked, quite politely, ‘Lads?’ He responds with ‘PC Brigade out this morning’.

There is plenty of research out there in the world that demonstrates that women are discouraged by language that excludes us, while men are not discouraged by ‘neutral’ or ‘inclusive’ language. This is all the questioner was asking for. This example is probably not intended to hurt or harm, it’s just not realising what the effect of his words is, but not liking to be challenged, so he dismisses the response by trivialising it.

The other company respond, quite reasonably in our view, by tagging us. If this was the worst of it, we wouldn’t bother. We know we’re going to be surrounded by men every day of our lives in this industry. Man haters really don’t work in the trades, they go somewhere where they won’t have to deal with men, day in day out. So we get skilled at ‘banter’ and grow the ‘thick skins’ that are required. This we can cope with.

But, when it’s placed in context with this other, which happened in a plumbing group on Facebook within a few hours, a picture starts to emerge, that is far more active and intentional. Once reported, we’re pleased to say the admin took prompt action and apologised for not having seen the comments already.

It’s easy to tell from the comments which have been made by men and which by women, the number of likes is clear and also, the fact that no men are challenging these comments is obvious. This is not about growing a ‘thicker skin’ or ‘banter’.

We also hear of women customers, alone in the house, chased up the stairs by men with hard ons far too often. Why do women even bother to continue in the industry when this is a daily occurrence?

Strangely, we love it, and get on with most of the men, but honestly guys, it’s time for the ‘good guys’ to stand up and be counted. When you do, we won’t need to have our own groups where we can get support for dealing with this vileness every day, so that we can continue. And also we really want all householders to feel safe. In fact we want to work in an industry we can be proud of, and are working to make it that. Don’t you?

We know that our industry has a terrible mental health record and a high suicide rate. It isn’t just women who struggle with ‘sucking it up’. When we come together and support each other we can change this and perhaps encourage more men and women to join it.

Strangely, in another FB group for tradeswomen the question was asked of what the members like best about it and several of the women said how much they love being there for the guys who’re struggling. We’re only asking for everyone to receive more respect, apprentices, and experienced, men, women and those who prefer not to say.

Crowdfunding for a National Register of Tradeswomen

At Stopcocks Women Plumbers (and perhaps you get it a bit more now, why we exist) we had time to pause during lockdown and to consider what we want to achieve in this industry.

Many people will have seen or heard the Panorama programme about the horrific increase in violence against women and children in their own homes during lockdown. We may not be able to change that, but we do understand that those women might want to choose a tradeswoman to come into their home to carry out repairs, many others, for all kinds of reasons feel the same and deserve the choice.

We’ve set up a new not-for-profit company that will link tradeswomen with householders who’d like the choice of a tradeswoman. At around 1% on the tools, we’re not easy to find, and the new register will actively go out and find a tradeswoman if she exists, even if she isn’t on the register.

More than that, we intend to actively increase the numbers of tradeswomen, with training courses for women. We know from research carried out by Watersafe that around 38% of women ‘would choose a career in trades if they had their time again’. That percentage of women is not making it into the industry by a very long way. So we’re going to do something about that.

And, since a significant number of women who train in trades are older and have families to support (quite often on their own), we’ll provide help with funding where we can, so they can feed their kids, pay the rent and also improve the quality of their lives. We sincerely hope and intend that some of those women who initially choose a tradeswoman because they’re genuinely afraid to have a strange man in their house are inspired by those great role models and decide to join our ranks, so we’re going to make the route easier.

Be a good guy and help us in this mission which can only improve our industry for everyone. When you see or hear someone behaving like an immature idiot, call it out.

And donate to our crowdfund which is to pay for the website and platform for the new not-for-profit company. Some really good guys are doing this at a super lean rate, because they believe in our mission.

Thank you to Michael Maher & Expert Trades for the tech support, and to Fernox, She’s Electric, and Addleshaw Goddard for your investment already and to everyone (women and men) who’s supported our crowdfund to bring it to 57% of our target in two weeks.

We have until 2nd September 2020 to reach it, so make a pledge today and help us get there.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/national-register-of-tradeswomen/