“If we are to plug the skills gap then we need to open up the doors to more women and the campaign has done that,” says NICEIC CEO, Emma Clancy.
The Jobs for the Girls campaign began back in 2011 to encourage more women into the electrical industry.
The aim back then was to highlight the opportunities that exist within the industry and challenge the myth that electrical contracting was for men only.
Six years on from its launch, the campaign has scored some notable successes.
NICEIC have met with politicians, appeared on national TV and radio, set up a training academy, sponsored female students and were also the first organisation to run a trade advert featuring a female contractor.
As Emma Clancy, CEO of NICEIC commented: “The plan at the start was to change the way people view the industry.
“If we are to plug the skills gap then we need to open up the doors to more women and the campaign has done that.
“We are seeing more and more females contacting NICEIC to find out how they can get started in the industry and more employers seeking information about how they can employ female sparks.
“However, while more and more women are now choosing to take up a career as a skilled tradesperson the numbers are still painfully low.
“Men outnumber women nine to one in the trades sector – with less than 1% of all electricians estimated to be female.
“NICEIC is committed to creating more opportunities in the electrical sector.”
As part of its revamp, NICEIC has created a new webpage dedicated to the campaign.
The new material includes:
- An A5 brochure with overview about the Jobs for the Girls campaign
- Case studies from young females working in the sector
- Information sheet about our sponsorship programme
- A short film about our work with students at Sheffield College
- A link to our blog about Jobs for the Girls
