I must admit I’m a bit of a Rachel Reeves fan girl. With the doom-laden budget just a week away, this may be my last chance to say this publicly! My most recent encounter with her was last month at Labour business day during the Party conference. Access to the new parliamentarians was limited at Liverpool, and very few questions were allowed. Rachel, however, graciously accepted my question from among the other contenders.
Labour MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, Rachel Reeves is a role model for women entering the world of finance. While she is known for being the first female chancellor of the Exchequer in 800 years, she first entered the Bank of England as one of the few female economists in 2000. I asked her about gender equality in traditionally male industries.
She spoke of her six years at the Bank of England with heartfelt sincerity. As one of a tiny handful of woman economists employed by the Bank at that time (interestingly, the CEO of the Confederation of British Industry Rain Newton-Smith joined at the same time), she spoke about overcoming structural obstacles in the long-held male bastion. The chancellor acknowledged, however, that even her experience paled in comparison to that of women entering my industry: construction.
Powering the country
In the whole of construction, only 13% of the workforce is female. The trend is not good either, since this represents a percentage drop since last year. For those working ‘on the tools’, the numbers plummet even lower. Only 2% of construction workers are women. While construction may not be finance, it is equally important as an engine of our country.
On a visit to Leeds College of Building, which trains apprentices going into the trades, Principal Nikki Davies told me 92% of their students are male, while in electrical courses that figure rises to 99%.
Why does this matter? The electrification of the UK is increasing apace, as it is the fastest and safest way to reach our net zero targets. There are many aspects to reducing carbon emissions, but electrification of transport, buildings and heat are key issues.
Accelerating electrification necessarily means ramping up the number of electrical installers. It takes four years to train a qualified electrician, and currently we cannot train enough electricians to meet demand. Taking shortcuts in training jeopardises lives. It is worth remembering that the Grenfell tragedy was caused by an electrical fire.
Electricians for the environment
If we are attracting only half the population to roles that are pivotal to the transition to net zero, we will not achieve the UK’s net zero targets. We will all suffer as a consequence, as the climate warms more rapidly.
We also need to attract a more diverse electrical workforce. The challenges of new low-carbon tech. are complex. Integration with existing systems is necessary for safety and energy efficiency. And as this is managed digitally, you are just as likely to see an electrician with a laptop as with a screwdriver. Integration requires a different set of skills; problem solving and communication are key. A heat pump may be fitted by an electrician or a plumber as the main contractor, but both trades are involved. The ability to communicate between trades is key to ensuring that any low-carbon installation is safe, energy efficient, and works seamlessly across a building.
Managing complex systems amid constantly evolving technology is something that requires a range of approaches. Traditionally, competition and conflict between trades is more common than cooperative working. Diverse teams need different behaviours to tackle problem solving. We need a fresh way to approach the challenges of net zero, and we can’t do that without attracting more women into the trades, and in particular into the electrical industry.
Recruiting women to the construction industry
As with the Bank of England, the culture of the construction industry must change to attract more women. Davies tells me Leeds College of Building puts on taster sessions for Year 8s, but she also admits that by then it is too late. Pre-pubescent girls are already thinking about other jobs. Even if they are interested in becoming an electrician or a plumber, their parents or teachers quickly point them in other directions. The work to recruit a new generation of electrical apprentices must start with persuading parents of the vast opportunities for securing a well-paid job in an expanding industry.
But to keep women, the industry must tackle the basics. Supplying protective gear in smaller sizes, providing female toilets (that men don’t use), and addressing sexist language and behaviour head on, are good starting points.
And finally, to Rachel – who I know cares deeply about equal opportunities for women – you have a budget coming up. We need funding to address systemic gender imbalance, improve college provision, and support employers to take on more apprentices. Give everyone an equal chance of a career in the electrical industry, and the country a shot at reaching net zero.
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