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Published: 29 October 2014
Category: News
A new children’s book has been published that aims to challenge gender stereotypes in the various trades sectors, including electrical installation. And it features a well-known NICEIC registered woman electrical contractor. James Hunt reports:
The book - which is entitled ‘Yes We Can!’ – has been produced by the Sheffield-based charity Women in Engineering Science and Technology (WEST).
It is a colourful new and free of charge activity book and associated website for young children, and it shows some of the jobs in engineering, science, technology and construction that anyone can do. In explaining this to the kids, the publication uses illustrations of real-live Sheffield-based tradeswomen, including Mandy the Electrician, Laura the Handywoman, Kay the Plumber and Tracy the Bricklayer.
Electrical contractor Mandy Reynolds is a supporter of the NICEIC’s Jobs for the Girls campaign, and is also a contributor to a report about women in the construction industry edited by Labour’s Meg Munn MP.
Since Mandy has been ‘flying the flag’ for female electricians in various ways over recent years, she has now been immortalised in print by appearing as a caricature in this new book, which shows kids that there are all sorts of jobs out there to be had, regardless of sex.
Mandy established her business Mand Made in 2008. She is no stranger to fame having won the national Which? Local Business of the Year Award in 2011 and again, for the Yorkshire region, in 2013. She said: “WEST does excellent work to challenge the misconception that women and girls can’t do ‘men’s work’, so I’m delighted to support this book.
“It aims”, said Mandy, “to create an acceptance of women doing non-traditional work in young children before they become influenced by stereotypes. I am the walking, talking, proof that a girl really can have a career as an electrician.”
Commented WEST’s Liz Kettle: “Sheffield has a proud history of excellent tradeswomen like Mandy and we’re chuffed to be able to celebrate them. Our aim is to inspire a whole new generation with these role models.”
At the successful launch, kids were invited down to meet the characters, have a go at colouring, dot-to-dot and spot the difference and other activities. They also heard the story of Ruby the Roofer and her trusted helper Harry – and how they help poor Ms Hawkins fix her leak! And, as a bonus, they were able to collect their free copies of the book as well as stickers.
The book also appeared in a recent item on the children’s news programme ‘Newsround’. To see a video clip of this, please use the link at the bottom of this web page.
Jobs for the girls
Although women represent at least 50% of the UK workforce, they are severely under-represented in most trade professions. Recent figures indicate that fewer than one in every thousand electrical contractors is female.
As a result, the NICEIC and its campaign partners have been trying to highlight the interesting and exciting opportunities available to women in the electrical industry. The organisation is also hoping to recruit more young women to its recently launched Apprentice Academy.
The Apprentice academy, run in partnership with Bedford College aims to provide young students with the necessary training and skills to meet the demanding challenges of the industry.
Copies of Yes We Can! and online activities are available at www.westskills.org.uk/yeswecan The book is free, but donations to the charity WEST are welcome.