Man accused of stabbing his brother

said: “I never ever thought I would end up in construction, I was always leaning towards an art and designbased job. I personally think leaving school at 16 is such a young age to know exactly what you want to do in life but this was a great thing – it built my personal skills going straight into an adult workplace, it was something practical which I knew I was good at, and it was a fulltime paid job whilst learning on the job.

“The school I attended never advised skill-based apprenticeships as something to do once you left school, we were always pressured into

attending sixth form, college or university. Schools these days are very academic based, but for someone like me who wasn’t very good with the pressure of exams and coursework yet practically was really good, an apprenticeship worked.”

During her time working as an electrician she has seen a change for the better in the industry but still faces some challenges. Wanting to be involved in making a change, working with JTL a learning provider for apprenticeships, Hannah got together with women from across the country who work in construction. The group meets regularly to discuss how it can raise awareness of the lack of female apprentices in this industry and held an event in the House of Commons when Hannah was 18 to promote the initiative. She added: “In my opinion, it will always be seen as a masculine environment. Still to this day, it is a struggle for women in construction. “The simple things like female uniforms have been hard to get hold of, female toilets on sites and even in main construction buildings are things we’ve had to ask for. “Every job you can predict customers will say ‘ee you’re a woman!’ Me and my female colleagues always laugh about it. The majority of customers are really great about it.” ■To register your interest email YHN at apprenticeships@newcastle.gov.uk

A MAN accused of stabbing his younger brother in the stomach the morning after a party during lockdown has appeared in court.

Nathan Dodds, 22, is alleged to have committed grievous bodily harm against his brother at around 9am on Saturday.

It is claimed the attack happened in the kitchen of Dodds’ property in Tyne Gardens, Washington.

Dodds is also alleged to have threatened to commit criminal damage to the property of a woman he spoke to by phone about the alleged attack.

He appeared in the dock at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court with his right arm in a black sling.

He did not enter a plea to the charges.

District Judge Kathryn Meek refused an application for bail by Dodds’ solicitor Jason Smith.

She remanded Dodds in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, April 12.