Sparky policewomen who took a course to become electricians launch a female-only franchise
TWO former policewomen who retrained as electricians have been so successful they are aiming to set up a female-only franchise next month.
Leah Burman, 40, and Christine Vaghela, 31, who cover Hertfordshire and north London, paid £1,700 each for a five-week course and set up in 2010 as Elecchicks with £10,000.
Leah says: ‘We were going to do personal fitness training but realised there was more of an opportunity for us as electricians.’
Only one per cent of electricians are female and Leah says: ‘People assume it is just elderly people who call us, but it isn’t.’
She adds: ‘It is not hard for us to shine. So many people are doing it so wrong – not registering their firms with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting, working from unmarked vans, saying they will turn up and then not doing so. It is the small things, like looking professional and turning up on time, that make us stand out.’
Leah and Christine have also had so many enquiries from women considering careers as electricians that they have negotiated with colleges for discounts for them.
Emma Clancy, NICEIC chief executive, says: ‘On the whole, there is a massive skills shortage, but 63 per cent of 16 to 24-year-old women are considering trades over other university or college courses.’
Emma is spearheading Jobs For The Girls, which aims to recruit more female contractors into the construction industry.
NICEIC, which assesses and maintains a register of more than 25,000 electrical contracting companies, has also taken the initiative with an Apprentice Academy to help plug the skills and gender gap in the industry.