Female electricians attend House of Commons Women in trades event

L to R Electricians Helen Colwil and Shauna Wigglesworth attended a House of Commons event celebrating the work being done to encourage more women to work in trades

Apprentice electrician Shauna Wigglesworth, 26, and electrician Helen Colwill, 20, attended the event in Parliament.

Shauna and Hellen work for Guinness Property - a housing maintenance company owned by social housing provider The Guinness Partnership.

Shauna from Sheffield was awarded ‘Guinness Apprentice of the Year’ in 2017 for her determination in pursuing a career as an electrician.

Shauna self-funded her attendance on an electrical installation course and obtained qualifications without the support of an employer. She is now working with Guinness to gain the relevant experience before becoming fully qualified.

Shauna said: “I’ve really enjoyed coming down to London and chatting to other people who know what it’s like being the only woman on-site!

“I worked in all sorts of jobs before finding out how to train to be an electrician. It’s fantastic that there are things being done to make it easier for women to work in trades and I want to help spread the word about what a great career choice it is.”

Helen from Chesterfield said: “I was so excited to have the opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament and meet other women working in the trades.

“Throughout my training I was usually the only woman, but it never bothered me. I’ve always wanted to be an electrician and love what I do. Now I want to help more girls find out about these types of careers so they don’t miss out on potentially doing something they love too.”