Female Heating and Gas Engineer
The world of engineering is notoriously male dominated and although it hasn’t always been this way, many women are still reluctant to pursue careers in the trades. This isn’t just a problem for women, it’s also a hindrance to the industry as a whole. The number of female heating and gas engineers is decreasing and as a result there is a huge shortage of skilled workers. It’s therefore crucial that more people are encouraged to become an engineer and that this includes women.
It’s well known that girls consistently outperform boys at GCSE in STEM subjects but despite this, they tend not to continue with these subjects at A-level and beyond, leading to the gender imbalance seen across numerous industries. This is especially true in the trades and STEM, where there are far fewer females than men at both apprentice and fully qualified level.
Several factors could be responsible for this, including poor career advice which has been highlighted as being a major issue by British Gas who recently carried out research on the subject. The report found that over 70% of girls felt they were best suited to careers in beauty, childminding and nursing, while 51% claimed that the career advice they received was not helpful. This may lead to a subconscious impression that women are not as good at these types of jobs which can have a negative impact on their decision to study for an apprenticeship in the first place.
Qualities of a Female Heating and Gas Engineer
However, it’s not all doom and gloom because the industry does need more workers, and that includes women. A lot of the work is very hands on so it’s a great choice for anyone who enjoys working with their hands and putting their practical skills to use. It’s also important to be able to work with customers and understand their needs. This requires good communication skills and attention to detail which are all key qualities of a heating and gas engineer.
Another positive is that it’s a very flexible career with the option to go self employed which means that you can fit your work around your family life. There are also a number of charities and groups which support those in the engineering industry, particularly those who work as women, so there’s plenty of support for those wanting to pursue a career as a gas engineer.
There are many reasons why more women should consider training to become heating and gas engineers. Not only does it offer excellent pay and opportunities to develop your skills, but there is a real need for them out there as well. Many current engineers are reaching retirement age which means there is a big skills gap to fill.
There are also certain groups of people such as the elderly who would feel more comfortable with a female engineer visiting their home which is another reason why it’s so vital that more women are encouraged to train to become gas engineers.