The Scotland and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) has seen increased diversity amongst its most recently recruited plumbing apprentices
The number of female apprentices rose to 2.24% of the 400 recruited for 2021/22 compared to 1.34% of the 150 hired in 2020/21.
Additional, the proportion of Black and Ethnic Minority (BAME) apprentices has increased from 0.67%, of the total, to 0.75%.
‘Improve the diversity of our sector’
Dale Thomson, apprentice training manager at SNIPEF, said: “Nine female apprentices, compared to just two in the previous year and three BAME apprentices compared to only one in 2020-21 is a clear indicator that we are slowly but surely moving in the right direction to improve the diversity of our sector.
“There is clearly still a long way to go but we find it encouraging that women, in particular, are increasingly enthusiastic about training to become qualified plumbers.”
Fiona Hodgson, chief executive of SNIPEF, said: “It is highly encouraging to witness a clear trend towards greater diversity in our sector.
“I am confident that as more and more individuals from diverse backgrounds elect to undertake a plumbing apprenticeship, they will act also as a spur to yet more women and people of BAME heritage to embrace the satisfaction and long-term earnings potential of becoming qualified to undertake such a socially responsible role.”
