JUST four per cent of the painting and decorating workforce is female.
The statistic highlights a longstanding gender gap in the industry, but growing customer demand for female decorators is starting to spark change.
Searches for ‘female painters and decorators near me’ have risen by 56 per cent, and ‘woman decorator near me’ by 200 per cent.
Bagnalls, a national painting and decorating company, is working to raise female representation in the industry, with 33 per cent of its latest apprentice intake being women.
Jane Potter, branch manager and one of Bagnalls’ first female apprentices, said: “When I first started out in this industry, I was the only woman on the whole team.
“Now, I am proud to have 11 women working as painters and decorators on my team alone.”
Becky Slater, head of safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) at Bagnalls, said: “We’ve seen an increasing number of women joining Bagnalls, especially in operational roles.”
The company’s efforts include sending female employees to recruitment events at schools and colleges, providing visible role models for young women considering a career in the trade.
Jane has now been with the company for 33 years, working her way up from apprentice to branch manager.
Katie Sanders, a painting and decorating apprentice at Bagnalls, said: “My group at college is a fairly equal mix of men and women.
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“When we’re on a job, we all treat one another the same.”
For more information about Bagnalls, visit www.bagnalls.co.uk.
