We're featuring Women in Construction and Trade every Wednesday!
This week we spoke to apprentice electrician Vicky Frisby about her chosen profession, how she got to where she is and where she’s going!
Hi Vicky, it’s a pleasure to interview you! Would you mind telling us a little about what you do?
I am an apprentice electrician, working for a Commercial and Industrial electrical company. I work on a variety of different sites such as hospitals, prisons, warehouses, retail parks and sometimes do some domestic work too.
What motivated you to get into your profession?
I have always loved being more hands on with whatever I do from a young age but probably never had the gumption to follow my heart.
I had followed the electrician round when my parents renovated an old farm house in France and very much enjoyed helping.
I came to an age and time in my teaching career where I realized I was deeply unhappy and knew it was time to do something about it.
Along with the physical aspect of being an electrician I love the planning, design and being able to see the end product
How did you get to where you are now (what courses have you taken, have you held any other job titles etc.)?
I became an approved applicant with JTL and they rang me to ask if I’d be interested in working with the company. After sending out hundreds of emails and phoning a lot of electricians!
Do you feel there were any setbacks you had to overcome?
Keeping positive when it took so long to find an apprenticeship.
What keeps you motivated on more difficult days?
The fact I’m finally doing something that makes me happy and I enjoy. I also try to keep my mind on life when, hopefully, I have my gold card and I’m qualified.
What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on?
I really enjoyed putting a new circuit into a staffroom in a hospital which allowed me to work with dado trunking for the first time and the electrician I was working with demonstrated then let me get on with it for myself. The feeling of achievement when you just step back at the end of the day and think ‘I did that!’.
What is your favourite thing about your profession? What is your least favourite thing?
I definitely love being able to see the end product of my work and being able to see where I can improve it. Currently, my least favorite part is the weather, being mid-winter and living in Manchester it can be challenging!
Thinking ahead to the future, what do you hope to achieve?
Become a qualified electrician but not just living to pass the AM2 exam but having as much understanding in different areas as possible.
What does the future hold for you that you’re excited about?
I am very excited to see where being an electrician takes me. I really enjoy working within a company and obviously have a few years to complete my apprenticeship and gain great experience. I would love to possibly become my own boss one day and see what the world has in store for me as a female electrician.
Do you have a mentor figure who has inspired you?
Karen Boom aka She’s electric has been amazing in helping me find an apprenticeship but also as an aspirational figure when I queried if I could actually take the leap and become an electrician!
Not to mention all the amazing electricians I’ve worked with for experience for 5 months before getting an apprenticeship.
Are there any women who work in construction within your own personal network that inspire you?
Do you feel you have ever been subjected to any inequality in your profession because of your gender identity?
Never by another electrician but maybe wrongly so I expect certain comments to be made.
Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to other women who are just entering the industry?
Go for it and don’t let the worry of gender put you off!
This was Vicky Frisby (vfrisby1989), interviewed for our #WiCW series – a compilation of articles from inspirational women in the Construction and Trades industries. Want to get involved? Have someone to recommend? Get in contact with Grey on Twitter or grey@shakeandspeare.com
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