Men are more likely than women to be working in a skilled trade profession, according to government findings. Despite an increase in female workers taking on trade jobs over the years, there is still an enormous gender gap in the industry.

Reporter Cara Simmonds spoke to three women who are challenging the stereotypes at one of Kent's largest housing associations, Golding Homes...

When you think of a male-dominated industry, construction and housing is one of the first that comes to mind.

At school, the role of an engineer, technician or plasterer was always seen historically as an 'unwanted' role for girls.

Apprenticeship and college courses weren't promoted for female students and it felt like those jobs were only aimed at males.

At Golding Homes – a housing association based in Maidstone, things are already different. It has a repairs service team led by predominantly women in senior roles.

Operations director Annemarie Roberts oversees more than 190 people managing housing maintenance.

She said: "I didn’t grow up in a wealthy household – I moved to the UK when I was 26 and it was my first time abroad.

"I only had £300 to my name and a backpack, and I started a new life.

"Working incredibly long hours in a stressful environment, it can push you to your limits.

"It has some challenges, but some good challenges – you can see things improving and you can build things."

The 42-year-old mum from Tonbridge raised three children with her husband while continuing to work.

However Annemarie says she has come up against sexism in previous jobs.

"When I had my children, I had to prove myself," she explained. "I worked incredibly hard when I came back from maternity leave because I felt like if I didn’t show my commitment I would be sidetracked.

"What we used to say back then is that I would be put on the ‘mummy track’ – thinking ‘okay she has had children now, that’s basically it for her.’

"In between every child I have had, I’ve received a promotion and kept working my way up."

Annemarie started at Golding Homes in 2019, and won the 2022 woman of the year at the National Housing Awards.

'When I had my children, I had to prove myself...'

She said: "I do recall when I was at a senior level in a previous organisation, there was an executive male director who was quite old.

"I came to a training session one morning, arrived slightly late, after pre-agreeing with him to drop my child off and then commute into London.

"He humiliated me all the way through that session, making snarky comments about me strolling in whenever I want.

"I didn’t appreciate that, it was very unnecessary."

She added: "It’s hard because you just have to put on a brave face. I made the decision not to report the person for comments like that.

"I didn’t want to do anything that would impact my future at the organisation, however if it's something really serious I think you should always speak up."

She says the housing industry is now more equal, although there is still progress to be made.

Nationally, in construction and trades women are paid 23.4% less than men, with an average of £9.20 per hour compared to £12, according to the Office of National Statistics.

For property and estate managers, there is a 15.8% gap ­– with women achieving £15.31 per hour compared to £18.19 earned by men.

Women also hold only 38% of these jobs.

However Debbie Wiley, who supervises trade workers and sub-contractors, believes women in the workplace have "come a long way".

She said: "I don’t think anything holds women back now. Personally I get on really well with men, more so than women.

"A lot of my close friends are male, I was brought up with two brothers, and I have two sons."

The 60-year-old from Folkestone has spent 17 years working in the flooring industry as a trade counter manager – traditionally a male-dominated environment.

"I originally applied to be a police woman," she explained. "I passed all the exams, but my boyfriend at the time didn’t really want me to do it.

"When I was younger I worked more in the office, which was seen as a woman’s role at the time. Customer service was always seen as a woman’s job.

"Then when I was at the trade counter, some of the contractors didn’t like the fact that I was pushing out large sack barrels.

"They used to come and try to take them off me."

Now Debbie manages a team of 12, and makes sure work is completed on empty homes so they can be offered to customers in housing need.

She added: "I have to wear totectors and black combat trousers...everyone says that I rock it!

"I always wear it with a trendy belt, nails, hair and makeup – I would never not.

"I have always been quite particular about how I look. People call me GI Jane instead of GI Joe."

Hailey Towner, from Gillingham, has been in planning since she was 19, joining Golding Homes in November 2021.

"Planning wasn’t something I envisaged I would be doing when leaving school," she said.

"I wanted to do performing arts and dance, then I quickly realised that wasn’t going to be a viable career option."

'You have to have quite thick skin, and not take it personally...'

The 31-year-old is one of six planners who oversees 50 people – the majority of which are men – who visit properties across the county that need fixing.

She grew up on a council estate with her father, and believes because of this she has always been "very aware of a male mentality".

Hailey explained: "When I first went into this industry, I did find that men expect you not to know about trade, or identify when they are fibbing and not wanting to do a job.

"You have to have quite thick skin, and not take it personally, but also equip yourself with the knowledge so that you are not in that situation.

She added: "Especially with tradesmen, they are sometimes of a certain generation and have certain opinions.

"My partner is in the trade as well and my dad will always ask to speak to him over me, even though I could probably answer the same questions.

"You can’t change that and you just have to roll with it as best you can."

In 2021, women made up 78% of jobs in the health and social work sector and 70% in education, according to government findings.

Sectors where only a small proportion of jobs are held by females include construction (15%), mining and quarrying (17%), and transportation and storage (23%).

Hailey says the problem stems from the education girls receive when starting out.

“We currently have only one female electrician at the company.

"I personally don’t believe we are hitting schools early enough – they make it out to be dirty, smelly, unfeminine work that nobody wants to do.

“It definitely wasn’t said to me when I was at school, and that was 15 years ago."

*Since her interview with KentOnline, Annemarie has left Golding Homes for a new role at Moat, a housing association based in Dartford.