Latest news with #tradeswomen
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
B&Q apologises after cabinet described as ‘easy to assemble, even if you're a girl'
B&Q was forced to apologise after it advertised a storage unit as easy to assemble 'even if you are a girl', according to reports. The DIY shop listed a flatpack bamboo bathroom shelf on its website with the information: "Easy to assemble the cabinet even if you're a girl,' The Sun reported. It said the 'inappropriate' remark had come from a third-party seller and apologised for any offence caused, the same newspaper reported. 'Tall storage cabinet is perfect for saving space, slim design to fit in almost any corner,' the production information read. 'Three shelves provide plenty of storage to keep essentials organised and neat, and the cabinet door provides added privacy. Easy to assemble the cabinet even if you're a girl.' It comes after the DIY shop launched a 'Do The Lift Thing' campaign to 'showcase tradeswomen breaking down barriers'. The project wanted to 'highlight the new movement of women in trades, while spotlighting the barriers preventing more girls and women entering the field'. Supply and Logistics Director Amelie Gallichan-Todd said at the time of the launch: 'With only two per cent of trade professionals being women, B&Q is committed to tackling this and has pledged £1m to fund trade apprentices across a variety of sectors, including carpentry, plumbing, painting and decorating. 'By showcasing successful women in these roles, we hope to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in trades, challenging stereotypes and changing perceptions.' In the introduction to a 'gender pay gap report' last year, B&Q said: 'We're proud of the progress we're making. This is supported by 44 per cent of our management roles being occupied by women.'
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Nail chauvinists! B&Q forced to apologise after listing bathroom cabinet that can be put together 'even if you are a girl'
DIY giant B&Q has been forced to apologise after it advertised a bathroom cabinet as easy to put together 'even if you are a girl'. The 140cm x 33cm flatback bamboo unit appeared on the company website decorated with toiletries and attractive-looking plants. But some buyers were more interested in its description which read: 'Tall storage cabinet is perfect for saving space, slim design to fit in almost any corner. 'Three shelves provide plenty of storage to keep essentials organised and neat, and the cabinet door provides added privacy. 'Easy to assemble the cabinet even if you're a girl.' The item had no reviews or ratings before it was taken down by the British home improvement company, The Sun reports. A spokesman for B&Q added the description had been 'offered by a third-party seller'. She said: 'We apologise for any offence caused by this inappropriate description of a product offered by a third-party seller.' Some buyers were more interested in its description which read 'easy to assemble the cabinet even if you are a girl' The apology comes after B&Q announced its Do The Lift Thing campaign to 'showcase tradeswomen breaking down barriers' in March. It was an initiative the firm hoped would 'highlight the new movement of women in trades, while spotlighting the barriers preventing more girls and women entering the field'. Supply and Logistics Director Amelie Gallichan-Todd said at the time of the launch: 'With only two per cent of trade professionals being women, B&Q is committed to tackling this and has pledged £1million to fund trade apprentices across a variety of sectors, including carpentry, plumbing, painting and decorating. 'By showcasing successful women in these roles, we hope to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in trades, challenging stereotypes and changing perceptions.' In the introduction to a gender pay gap report last year, B&Q said: 'We're proud of the progress we're making. 'This is supported by 44 per cent of our management roles being occupied by women.'
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
DIY giant B&Q apologises for listing bathroom cabinet as easy to assemble ‘even if you are a girl'
DIY giant B&Q has apologised after advertising a bathroom cabinet as easy to assemble 'even if you are a girl'. The sexist product listing for their flatpack bamboo unit appeared on its website. 3 The 140cm x 33cm cabinet was shown storing towels, bathroom plants and toiletries. Its product information said: 'Tall storage cabinet is perfect for saving space, slim design to fit in almost any corner. 'Three shelves provide plenty of storage to keep essentials organised and neat, and the cabinet door provides added privacy. "Easy to assemble the cabinet even if you're a girl.' The item had no reviews or ratings before it was taken down after The Sun was alerted by concerned readers. A B&Q spokeswoman said: 'We apologise for any offence caused by this inappropriate description of a product offered by a third-party seller.' The embarrassing blunder comes after B&Q announced its Do The Lift Thing campaign to 'showcase tradeswomen breaking down barriers'. The initiative said the firm wanted to 'highlight the new movement of women in trades, while spotlighting the barriers preventing more girls and women entering the field'. It was launched in March to coincide with International Women's Day. Director Amelie Gallichan-Todd said at the time: 'With only two per cent of trade professionals being women, B&Q is committed to tackling this gender imbalance and has pledged £1million to fund trade apprentices across a variety of sectors, including carpentry, plumbing, painting and decorating. I'm a female miner - men say I 'shouldn't be allowed' on site and ask if I'm the cleaner "By showcasing successful women in these roles, we hope to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in trades, challenging stereotypes and changing perceptions.' In the introduction to its gender pay gap report last year, B&Q said: 'We're proud of the progress we're making. 'This is supported by 44 per cent of our management roles being occupied by women.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
ONTARIO BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADESWOMEN HEAD TO QUEEN'S PARK TO PUSH FOR SAFER, MORE INCLUSIVE JOB SITES
TORONTO, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - On Monday, May 26, the Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen (OBCT), will host its first-ever Advocacy Day at Queen's Park. Tradeswomen from across the province will gather to meet with Members of Provincial Parliament, including Minister of Labour David Piccini, to advocate for progress in the skilled trades for tradeswomen. OBCT's top priorities include: Legislate mandatory Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment (ADAH) training as part of all apprenticeships in Ontario Ensure mandatory access to properly fitting PPE for all workers, especially women and non-standard-sized tradespeople Inspect and enforce new access and clean washroom regulations to ensure OSHA compliance and hot water access "We've made real strides in improving safety and inclusion on job sites," said Karen Pullen, Chairperson of the OBCT, "But there's more work to do. Culture change doesn't happen overnight—and by making ADAH training a standard part of apprenticeship, we're setting the tone from day one." ADAH training, created by OBCT and delivered free across Ontario, addresses the root causes of workplace harassment and discrimination. But while it's proven effective, it remains optional. Without a legislative requirement, too many job sites still leave tradespeople—particularly women and marginalized workers—vulnerable to unsafe and unwelcoming conditions. "This is about building a stronger, skilled trades workforce—for everyone," Pullen said. "When workers feel safe, respected, and seen, they stay. And that's what Ontario needs." Quick Facts Harassment on job sites in construction is still an issue today: 64% of women in construction report discrimination; nearly half report sexual harassment. ADAH works: The OBCT-developed ADAH training, delivered free across Ontario, educates workers, employers, and union reps on recognizing, preventing, and addressing discrimination. Current law isn't enough: Ontario's OHSA mandates policies—not training. Other provinces (BC, Alberta, Quebec) already require it. 90% of tradeswomen report being hampered at work by PPE that doesn't fit. Ill-fitting gloves, harnesses, and overalls increase injury risk. Only 6% of women surveyed said their PPE is designed for them. Standard-issue PPE is often made for the average male body—leaving women and others unprotected. About OBCT Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen (OBCT) is a network committed to advancing, supporting, and advocating for women in the skilled trades. OBCT connects tradeswomen across Ontario, provides leadership opportunities, and works to build an inclusive, respectful industry where all workers thrive. The OBCT is a program of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario which represents over 150,000 construction workers throughout the province. SOURCE Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, The View original content:
Globe and Mail
13-05-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
With demand for skilled trades soaring, more women join the ranks
Claudette Roy still remembers her first day of classes to become an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) tech and gas fitter. 'I walked into my first class and the teacher looked at me and said, 'I think you're in the wrong room,'' she says. 'That was the start of it – you're in the wrong place.' That was nearly 21 years ago and Ms. Roy would become the first woman to graduate from her program at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). She originally entered the program to learn to fix issues that popped up at a rental property she owned. If the boiler died or the air conditioning had problems, she wanted to take care of them herself. 'I found this HVAC course that did some plumbing, some electrical, some piping. It had a little bit of everything, so I signed up.' It turns out, Ms. Roy was a natural, and she fell in love. At first, she was the only woman in her classes. Then, she was the only woman on job sites. That has changed somewhat over the past two decades that Ms. Roy has been working – but not much. In 2022, Statistics Canada reported that women made up 8.3 per cent of skilled trades workers, up from 5.9 per cent when tracking began in 1987. But we need more people in skilled trades, particularly women. The construction industry across the country needs to recruit more than 350,000 new workers in the next decade in order to keep up the pace of construction and offset the hundreds of thousands of baby boomers set to retire. In response, trades schools and colleges have looked to recruit and retain women with a variety of programs. NSCC offers Women Unlimited, a free, 14-week program that includes job shadowing and site visits, to introduce women to the realities of working in a trade. Industry groups, such as Women On Site, which has chapters across Ontario, plus a handful further west, allow women in trades to find community and connection with others, which can be crucial. 'It's about creating bonds and relationships, because that's what's going to help them once they graduate,' says Ruth Lebelo-Almaw, co-ordinator of women in Red Seal skilled trades at Fanshawe College in London, Ont. Ms. Lebelo-Almaw focuses on recruitment and retention of women at Fanshawe, hosting programs like the Jill of All Trades fair for high school students, aiming to present skilled trades as a viable career path early. Fanshawe is also a partner of the Women on Site group, and promotes that connection early to help students build a stable foundation of peers across the industry. That can be important, especially to young women who might be on their first job. Though it's been more than 20 years since Ms. Roy was told she was in the wrong room, there are still misconceptions and difficulties that women face on a job site. 'Homeowners sometimes think that I am my boss's daughter, or that I'm related to somebody at the company,' says Olivia VanDenBelt, a Fanshawe graduate and a carpentry apprentice. Ms. VanDenBelt saw a few women in her classes, but says she's often the only one at a work site. That can also mean needing to get creative. While women can do any job men can, they may do it a little differently. For Ms. VanDenBelt, that means finding ways to lift heavy sheets of plywood that she simply can't muscle up like her male coworkers can. 'I built little ramps on a two by four to help me slide the sheet up, because I wasn't quite tall enough, or as tall as some of my co-workers to get the sheets up high enough and to make it feel safe for me,' she says. 'It took an extra five minutes, but now my co-worker could also use the sled, and it made it easier for him too.' Equipment is getting easier to source as well. Courtney Poirier, a refrigeration apprentice in Halifax, remembers trying to find a pair of steel-toed boots just two years ago. 'I walked in and asked, 'where's the women's section?' And the man said, 'we don't have one.' I told him 'that's part of the problem.'' Since then, Ms. Poirier has already noticed more stores offering a wider selection of women's workwear – including boots. It can be frustrating for the women working these jobs that we're even still talking about the lack of women in trades. When asked, every woman interviewed said that they were surprised their choice of career was still seen as out of the ordinary. But ultimately, everyone also acknowledged that it's still a necessary conversation. 'We still have under representation. That means it's probably healthy that we're having this conversation. It means that we're not there yet – but we're doing lots of work to get there,' says Sarah Hall, dean of the school of trades and transportation with NSCC. Ms. Hall says the school's recruitment efforts have paid off and NSCC has seen an increase in enrolment. This year, 14 per cent of their student body identifies as female, up from 9 per cent last year. Women are still in the minority in trades, but Ms. Roy sees that changing, as more apprentices join the ranks, and she's happy to welcome as many interested people as she can to the profession. 'It's a trades-person's world right now. We don't have to fight to be an apprentice or carry someone's bag any more. We … make good money doing it. I couldn't recommend something more right now.'
