EP #25 – Women In The Trades: What We Can Do Better w/ Anna Moynihan

Overview

Why aren’t there more women in the trades?

In Episode 25 of the FieldRocket Podcast, host Tulloch Priest is joined by Anna Moynihan, co-founder and CEO of TaskHer, an online booking platform connecting tradeswomen with customers across the UK. Anna shares her insights into the challenges women face entering and thriving in skilled trades, from societal perceptions and lack of role models to real barriers in training and employment.

She also discusses how TaskHer is helping to level the playing field and why increasing female representation is crucial for the future of the industry.

Highlights

An outdated industry

• (1:33) The trades is an outdated industry – only about 5% of tradespeople in the UK are female and there’s a general shortage of tradespeople.
• (2:33) Even factors from a young age can affect the careers that people choose.
• (4:05) There are lots of hurdles to overcome if you’re a female looking to get into the trades: Finding a course where you aren’t the only female, not being assumed to be an admin staff, etc.
• (10:45) Anna talks about how the trades industry has been slow to modernise, comparing it to some others. For example, in the late 60s, there were extremely few female solicitors (about 2%). Now, it’s about 52%.

The story of TaskHer

• (6:32) Anna had spent ages looking and being the main point of contact for tradespeople, but they would always defer to her husband.
• (7:45) Looking for some women tradespeople, she couldn’t find any.
• (9:20) The best tradespeople aren’t always the best marketers, and online directories make it harder for people with less work to find more work.
• (17:52) Anna mentions that TaskHer shouldn’t have to exist – in an ideal world.
• (13:10) Some people might be more comfortable with a tradeswoman

The problems tradeswomen face

• (5:24) Anna recounts stories she’s heard of trainees looking for apprentice roles, and it’s assumed that they’re calling for someone else.
• (14:50) There’s an inherent assumption that a tradesperson is going to be a man, and this is what TaskHer aims to change.
• (15:57) It’s not about the ability, given they all have the same experience, qualifications, and skills. Anna’s aim is to make the space more welcoming so that more women go into the trades.
• (19:30) Some of the challenges facing tradeswomen include things like no toilet facilities, a lack of respect, and general intimidation in the workplace.

What needs to change

• (25:00) Brands can try to work on balancing the scales – for example workwear clothing brands.
• (28:50) On a smaller scale, consumers and trades business owners can start to look to book or hire tradeswomen, and avoid the unconscious bias.
• (32:00) Parents’ attitudes need to change too, as they can inadvertently reinforce the idea of the trades being for men.