Fortunately, times have changed, and there are more and more trailblazing female technicians in workshops. One of them, 26-year-old apprentice Amy Edwards, is profiled this month (p21). Though already working at a truck and LCV dealership (Motus Commercials, Deeside), she only seriously considered becoming a technician after meeting another female in the role, who was working as a trainer at DAF Trucks in Haddenham.
Now in the third year of her apprenticeship, she admits being unsure about whether her comfort in the workshop is due to her male co-workers, or to her: she is equipped with a self-deprecating sense of humour and has a father, brother and boyfriend in vehicle repair. In passing, she mentions that one of her favourite aspects of working in a garage is the banter.
When asked about how she sees one of the trickiest areas in workplace relations, she says: “I do find that certain jokes are passed around the lads that don’t reach me. There are a lot of mum jokes; I feel bad for everyone else’s mum, but nothing has ever been said about mine. It’s not something that they have approached. That’s a respect thing. Even now the lads still open the door for me; there’s still chivalry there, and I don’t get any problems with banter. There’s an invisible line that they don’t cross. I must be lucky, because that’s how it should be. It’s only funny if everyone is laughing.”
She doesn’t want to change workshop culture, nor does she need it to be female-dominated. But being the odd one out can be off-putting. Edwards told me: “When I first started at college, there were no females. I’ve just been last week, and now there’s another in the same class, and a third in another group. It’s quite nice to see women popping up.” While she says she is not too bothered about the male/female split of her team, occasionally seeing other females working in similar roles has for her turned workshops into an inclusive environment.
The IRTE aims to increase female participation in the 2024 Skills Challenge, which returns to S&B Automotive Academy 3-7 June 2024. Register via www.is.gd/yopika.