‘Handymen’ firm denied Covid grant on ‘gender discrimination grounds’
THE term “handyman” could become a thing of the past after a company was refused a council grant on the grounds of “gender discrimination”.
Property maintenance firm Handymen has managed more than 2,000 properties since it was launched in 1987 and employs a number of women.
But its owner was stunned when the business failed in its application to Penarth Town Council for a £1,000 business grant to help it through the lockdown.
It was one of only two applications out of eight that were denied by the council in south Wales. The firm hopes it can force a change of mind when the decision goes before a council committee to be rubber-stamped today.
Handymen manager James SquireWood, 23, believes the authority took the “politically correct view” that its name was “dated” and discriminated against women.
He said: “We’re not discriminating towards gender at all and that was never our intention.
“Even by definition, the word ‘handyman’ refers to any person and has nothing to do with gender. It’s just a name.
“We have females who work for us, so it just strikes me as someone attempting to be politically correct through interpreting this incorrectly.
“I don’t agree with [potentially] being denied this grant especially at the moment, as it’s tough for small businesses.”
The company wanted to access the Independent Traders’ Contribution Fund, designed to help the high street recover from the pandemic.
James said he and his company will consider taking legal advice if their application is formally rejected for the reasons stated.
He said: “We don’t have any reason to not be eligible for the grant, so if the only grounds is gender discrimination then we’re going to have to defend ourselves.”
The only other application that was denied was from local artist Ivor Davies which was due to “failing to meet the criteria and incomplete application”.
The council offered no further detail on why it refused Handymen’s request for a grant other than stating “gender discrimination”.