Domestic installation provides a niche for new female entrants


research by the Equal Opportunities Commission shows that 80 per cent of women would potentially be interested in a job not traditionally undertaken by females. The domestic sector represents 20 per cent of the value


of the electrical contracting industry and offers a flexible environment for women who are self-employed or in business to balance the requirements of home and work without compromise or sacrifice. School runs and other commitments do not have to fit in around work – work can fit in around them. There is another reason why domestic electrical work


provides a niche for new female entrants. There are many people in society who would welcome a female electrician into their homes – the vulnerable, such as the elderly and single women, as well as ethnic groups where it is forbidden for a man to be in the home without a male family member present.


Business case On the part of employers, there is a real business case to employ women, because a diverse workforce is increasingly a requirement of many prequalification schemes that firms must comply with in order to win contracts. Another key business driver lies in the sustainability agenda and the government’s commitment to dramatically reduce carbon by 80 per cent by 2050. It is estimated that there are 24 million existing homes that need to start being retro-fitted with energy-saving measures and technology if we are to achieve these targets, creating a wealth of opportunities for electricians and electrical contractors. Wired for Success is not just looking to increase


the number of electricians – it also aims to boost the number of electrical contracting firms. The course will


Nicole Briscoe and Kellie-Marie Briscoe-Walker


Mother and daughter Nicole and Kellie-Marie were both looking for new career opportunities when they were


introduced to the ECA’s Wired for Success initiative. It was mother Nicole who first heard about the scheme. A single parent in her 40s from Herne Hill,


with three children aged between six and 26, Nicole discovered she had a natural talent for electronics and electrics when, as a young teenager, she took apart and fixed her cassette player and liked the analytic process involved. She went on to complete a qualification in electronic engineering before becoming pregnant


with her first daughter, Kellie-Marie, now 26. As a mum with a young child, Nicole wanted


a fallback career in case by the time she tried to go back to electronics her qualification was no longer relevant. As such, she took courses in reception work and did a degree in software engineering, but neither qualification led to work that would fit around her family commitments. Now that her children are older, Nicole is


looking for a career. Once she has completed the initiative, she would ultimately like to become an NVQ assessor, so she can combine her desire to teach and help people to achieve, with her love of all things electric. ‘No matter what happens, you always need electricians. It’s a great environment,’ says Nicole. Nicole was so enthused by the initiative


that she encouraged her daughter Kellie to apply. ‘There are a lot of mothers who would like to take a course and do training, but the opportunity is just not there, because they have to think about their children. So this kind of thing is really, really important,’ says Nicole.


Kellie, who still lives with her mother, went to


college to study fashion and textiles, before work and money called. After working in retail, she took several roles in the City, where she ended up in HR. An interest in maths prompted her to take opportunities to learn on the job in areas such as accounting and payroll. Kellie’s job ended and she was looking for other work when she was encouraged to sign up to the ECA Wired for Success Initiative by her mum. She hopes to work for an electrician to gain the experience and confidence needed to set up her own business – possibly with her mum! ‘I’m looking forward to getting out there and


showing men how it’s done! I’ll just do the job in half the time, more tidily, and then walk out again!’ Kellie jokes ‘I think there is already a market for women to


do this work and, because we’re the first group, hopefully a lot of work opportunities will come our way. My friends think it’s slightly unusual, but they said “It suits you”. It’s a surprise, but a good one.’


40


ECA Today November 2011


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