Midlands Heavy Goods Mechanic Encouraging Other Women To Take Up The Role

Caitlyn Maguire from Westmeath says she always wanted to work with her hands.

Women continue to make up just a fraction of those completing traditional trade apprenticeships, with recent figures showing that only 1.5% of graduates are female.

The figure highlights the significant gender gap that remains across trades traditionally dominated by men, despite ongoing efforts to encourage more women to consider careers in the sector.

Sandra Doyle, Apprenticeship Operations Manager with Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), and Caitlyn Maguire from Mullingar, an apprentice in heavy vehicle mechanics, discuss the challenges facing women entering the trades and the importance of encouraging more women to consider an apprenticeship.

Sandra Doyle says supports are available for women considering a career in the trades, and attitudes within the industry are continuing to change. She says employers and training organisations are playing an important role in opening up traditionally male-dominated apprenticeships to more women.

“Over the last 10 years, things have changed. Training organisations and employers have worked together to encourage women to enter traditional trade apprenticeships.”  Sandra also points to the financial benefits of choosing an apprenticeship, with apprentices earning while they learn and avoiding many of the costs associated with going to college or university.

Apprentices also gain a recognised qualification and employment opportunities in industries where skilled workers remain in high demand, both in Ireland and internationally.

She says women are just as capable as men of succeeding in the trades, with more women now challenging the traditional perception of who these careers are for.

Mullingar’s Caitlyn Maguire, who now lives in Cork, is completing an apprenticeship in heavy vehicle mechanics, working with her hands has always appealed to her.

“Growing up, I just wanted to work with my hands. I was always fixing things in the house and trying to understand electricity.”

While Caitlyn says she initially felt intimidated walking into an environment dominated by men, she says her experience quickly puts those concerns to rest, with her colleagues welcoming her and strong friendships developing throughout her apprenticeship.

Her advice to other young women considering following the same path is simple:

“Just go for it. You will have no regrets, particularly if you’re not into the books. I wasn’t — I like to be out doing things. I was never a sit-down-and-learn person.

“I have to say, I do like the theory with this, but I would just say go for it. Go for it.”

For Sandra, raising awareness of the opportunities available to women in traditional trades is an important part of breaking down the barriers that remain.

“It can be such a fulfilling career, and breaking stigmas is vital.”

Caitlyn’s experience of entering a traditionally male-dominated trade, and Sandra’s work encouraging more women to consider apprenticeships, are discussed in full on Shine a Light.

Shine A Light is funded by the News Reporting Scheme.