The launch of Women Installer Training through the ADEY Academy will focus on hands-on training around the Best Practice approach for water treatment. The new offering also coincides with ADEY’s support of the Women Installers Together event which takes place on Wednesday 6 July at London Metropolitan University. Co-founded by Hattie Hasan MBE, a plumber and CEO of the Stopcocks Women Plumbers franchise, the event aims to bring together tradeswomen, champion those already working in the industry and increase the number of female plumbers.

An already established pedigree in high quality training sees ADEY deliver courses in person and via e-learning modules across the country. While these help to encourage the next generation of engineers and develop the knowledge and skills of experienced plumbing and heating professionals, sadly female representation is very low with women making up just 3% of attendees.

“Women Installer Training is our way of supporting tradeswomen, and hopefully with increased visibility, it will encourage more women to consider a career in the industry,” comments Claire Miller, ADEY’s Marketing Director. “As a manufacturer, we believe that we have an important role to play in helping make sure the heating and plumbing workforce is truly representative. With our support confirmed for Women Installer Together, it’s something that we’re committed to helping to improve.”

“What Hattie is doing goes beyond women supporting women,” continues Claire. “Her work with schools to encourage young girls to consider a trade, bringing tradeswomen together to support each other andhelping to provide new skills for femalesurvivors of abuse to build a better future, is commendable.”

According to Working Futures 2021 only 1.93% (3,283) of plumbing, heating and ventilation engineers are female. Alongside this, interest in the plumbing trade has decreased across the board, with the number of 18-24 year olds searching for a job in the sector is currently 3%, according to YouGov Omnibus research.

“An inclusive environment increases diversity and it’s very clear that this is necessary to attract a quality workforce today,” said Hattie. “Stopcocks Women Plumbers and the Women Installers Together events have always been about including women in the skilled trades workforces and creating positive role models. We’re delighted that ADEY is taking the initiative and running training specifically for woman plumbers and heating engineers. It’s this kind of action that really demonstrates women are welcome in our industry.”