FOUR new businesses are seeking to combat the low level of female participation in Western Australia’s trades sector.
Last week, Business News revealed all-female plumbing business, the Plumbettes, was set to expand its operations from its Brisbane base into WA.
Founder Helen Yost said she planned to have 10 female plumbers working for the Plumbettes in WA within 12 months.
She said there was a growing demand for the domestic service, particularly from stay-at-home mums, those put off by exorbitant bills, and people who appreciated how tidy her workers were.
Founder of Success-based Silver Line Plumbing, Di Massara, said her new business was also looking to expand after being well received for the clean and reliable service it provided.
Mrs Massara said while she was proud her business was female owned and operated, she did not want to hire only women because she believed both sexes could work well together.
Franchise founder Lisa Ravenscroft said she started her Lady is a Trady business late last year to encourage women of all trades, such as electricians and plumbers as well as cleaners and beauticians, to expand their horizons.
“I want ladies to come on board and not just work for themselves in a small territory but to expand their businesses so that eventually they can work on the business rather than in the business,” Mrs Ravenscroft said.
Perth-based electrician Sarah Jayne Flatters founded TradeUP Australia as a not-for-profit support, mentoring and networking group for female tradies 18 months ago, shortly after finishing her own apprenticeship.
Ms Flatters told Business News she didn’t consider a trades career during her school years. Now, through TradeUP Australia, she and a growing group of volunteers who are qualified tradespeople and apprentices, visit schools and run hands-on workshops to show young women what a career as a tradie can offer.
“We’re currently creating a membership system because it’s just got so big so quickly,” she said.
“We have a private mentoring group and that has 70 female tradies and apprentices but then we have a much larger network of tradies, both men and women who volunteer.”
