From training to leadership: women thriving in building services
07 Mar 2025
March 8th is International Women’s Day and we thought we’d take the opportunity to celebrate some of the female candidates and staff that work in LCL Awards’ accredited centres. The theme of IWD this year is ‘Accelerate Action’, which aligns with our commitment to supporting more women in accessing the building services sector.
Women changing careers
CCTS in Northern Ireland proudly supports women learners. Recognising that there’s a shortage of gas engineers in the region, the Belfast-based company is doing all it can to get more women into the trades.
Regina Bradley and Danielle Dawson are both currently completing their Gas Safe Certification training at CCTS and are excited about their futures.
Pictured left to right: Danielle Dawson and Regina Bradley (students at CCTS) and Karen Barry (CCTS)
Regina worked in kitchens after she left school almost twenty years ago. She explained why she was keen to make the shift into building services:
“I’d been looking for a change and a course came up in the tech which seemed to fit the bill. I started the course, enjoyed it and that’s how I found out about CCTS and went on to do my training there.
“The time I’ve had at CCTS has been great. I studied the theory there and then went on placement where I learnt the practical side, working alongside a qualified gas engineer. Now I’m qualified, I’m just finishing up a few other commitments and plan to take up a job I’ve been offered as a gas engineer.”
We were keen to hear how Regina felt about working in what has been traditionally thought of as a man’s world:
“It’s been more welcoming than anywhere I’ve worked before. I get a lot of comments about it being great to see a woman in the trade. I find in this industry what you see is what you get, there’s no bitchiness, and it’s a great environment. I love it, I wish I had done it years ago.”
Danielle Dawson left school twenty-five years ago and went into the healthcare sector, where she qualified as a manager eight years ago. The COVID pandemic gave her the push to make a change:
“I began to think about other job options and initially started training as a tiler. Then a gas engineer came out to fix my boiler, and I found it fascinating.
“I’m a firm believer in the universe giving you signs and, just as I was looking into the CCTS course, I got a call from a lady in one of our assisted living properties who couldn’t get her heating on. I knew that what she needed was a Gas Safe Register engineer and, at that the moment I realised, working in this field could give me the job satisfaction I was missing.
“Building services has been a male dominated field, but in my experience, people are crying out for females to get into this line of work. You can almost see people relax when you come into their homes because you’re a woman. Once I finish my exams and certification with Gas Safe Register, I will be taking up a job working with my training mentor.
“If there are women out there who are practical and have thought about it, I would say just try it because what is there to lose. My experience has been 100% positive.”
Women managing our training centres
Women are also making a difference in the training centres themselves. Malcolm Heath, Director of Grove Assessment Services in Stoke-on-Trent told us how the appointment of his daughter Nikki Heath-Pedley, a graduate in Business Management, has strengthened the company, creating additional job opportunities at the centre as well as the development of a wider range of courses to suit the changing needs of engineers.
With no previous experience in the gas industry or education sector, Nikki has been able to see the business through new eyes. She has brought with her a fresh, modern perspective; implementing LCL Awards online exams programme, Parnassus and pursuing and acquiring a substantial Government Heat Pump grant that has benefitted the business as well as the local workforce, which has been able to expand its skill set.
Additionally, Nikki has taken the company through an intricate tendering process and won it a 5-year contract to provide all gas, water, and associated qualifications for Stoke-on-Trent local authority. This brings with it a substantial workload and kudos for the business.
Malcolm says: “Nikki has more than proved her worth as an asset to Grove and has recently been appointed Centre Manager. The success she has made of her role proves that equality in business is not only important but vital for its success.
“She also sends out a powerful positive message to other women looking to join our industry.”
Last year we interviewed Joanne Kelly, at Gas Certification Services Ltd. near Glasgow. You can read Jo’s story, here. Jo is a shining example of how a brave career change can reap rewards. Andy McNabb, her boss, took her on initially as a Trainer and Assessor, and last Autumn she was made Centre Manager. When we spoke to her before she said:
“Andy is keen to do all he can to promote women in building services. We went together to a careers fair at a local high school before they broke up for the summer and I think something as basic as seeing a woman behind an engineering stand at an event like that helps young girls see that a career in engineering is an option.”
Things are going well at Gas Cert. They’ve been going through a restructure and are currently training several new members of staff. We caught up with Jo this week: “I love International Women’s Day; it’s a great initiative. We do all we can to promote our courses to women and the team here sets a good example, with a balance of six women to three men. We all get along very well and support each other - and we try not to make the men feel outnumbered!”
Removing industry barriers
Stephen McGreevy, Lead Business Manager and Principal lecturer at SERC (South-Eastern Regional College) in Northern Ireland, works hard to promote building services as a career for women, whether they are school leavers, returning to education or looking to develop skills in a new area. SERC caters to a wide range of courses to learners at eight different campuses based around Lisburn and County Down. He said:
“As a progressive LCL centre we are keen to promote inclusivity and diversity and we recognise that women are underrepresented within our industries. There is no room in any area of any industry for barriers to success. Where moulds are broken, or barriers removed, this should be celebrated.
“We do see change and that the demography of the workplace is changing to better reflect the balance of society and we support International Women’s Day across our college sites.”
LCL Awards Inclusivity Charter
To further support LCL Awards’ centres in becoming more welcoming places to people from all walks of life, in 2022 we launched our Inclusivity Charter, which aligns with the focus of International Women’s Day 2025.
On the IWD website it states: “At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.
"Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres."
Our Inclusivity Charter encourages LCL training centres to make the building services sector accessible to underrepresented groups, including women and other under-represented groups, by providing more accessible training options and creating more inclusive learning environments to suit the needs of a diverse range of people.
To find out more about the Inclusivity Charter click here.
March 8th is International Women’s Day and we thought we’d take the opportunity to celebrate some of the female candidates and staff that work in LCL Awards’ accredited centres. The theme of IWD this year is ‘Accelerate Action’, which aligns with our commitment to supporting more women in accessing the building services sector.
Women changing careers
CCTS in Northern Ireland proudly supports women learners. Recognising that there’s a shortage of gas engineers in the region, the Belfast-based company is doing all it can to get more women into the trades.
Regina Bradley and Danielle Dawson are both currently completing their Gas Safe Certification training at CCTS and are excited about their futures.
Pictured left to right: Danielle Dawson and Regina Bradley (students at CCTS) and Karen Barry (CCTS)
Regina worked in kitchens after she left school almost twenty years ago. She explained why she was keen to make the shift into building services:
“I’d been looking for a change and a course came up in the tech which seemed to fit the bill. I started the course, enjoyed it and that’s how I found out about CCTS and went on to do my training there.
“The time I’ve had at CCTS has been great. I studied the theory there and then went on placement where I learnt the practical side, working alongside a qualified gas engineer. Now I’m qualified, I’m just finishing up a few other commitments and plan to take up a job I’ve been offered as a gas engineer.”
We were keen to hear how Regina felt about working in what has been traditionally thought of as a man’s world:
“It’s been more welcoming than anywhere I’ve worked before. I get a lot of comments about it being great to see a woman in the trade. I find in this industry what you see is what you get, there’s no bitchiness, and it’s a great environment. I love it, I wish I had done it years ago.”
Danielle Dawson left school twenty-five years ago and went into the healthcare sector, where she qualified as a manager eight years ago. The COVID pandemic gave her the push to make a change:
“I began to think about other job options and initially started training as a tiler. Then a gas engineer came out to fix my boiler, and I found it fascinating.
“I’m a firm believer in the universe giving you signs and, just as I was looking into the CCTS course, I got a call from a lady in one of our assisted living properties who couldn’t get her heating on. I knew that what she needed was a Gas Safe Register engineer and, at that the moment I realised, working in this field could give me the job satisfaction I was missing.
“Building services has been a male dominated field, but in my experience, people are crying out for females to get into this line of work. You can almost see people relax when you come into their homes because you’re a woman. Once I finish my exams and certification with Gas Safe Register, I will be taking up a job working with my training mentor.
“If there are women out there who are practical and have thought about it, I would say just try it because what is there to lose. My experience has been 100% positive.”
Women managing our training centres
Women are also making a difference in the training centres themselves. Malcolm Heath, Director of Grove Assessment Services in Stoke-on-Trent told us how the appointment of his daughter Nikki Heath-Pedley, a graduate in Business Management, has strengthened the company, creating additional job opportunities at the centre as well as the development of a wider range of courses to suit the changing needs of engineers.
With no previous experience in the gas industry or education sector, Nikki has been able to see the business through new eyes. She has brought with her a fresh, modern perspective; implementing LCL Awards online exams programme, Parnassus and pursuing and acquiring a substantial Government Heat Pump grant that has benefitted the business as well as the local workforce, which has been able to expand its skill set.
Additionally, Nikki has taken the company through an intricate tendering process and won it a 5-year contract to provide all gas, water, and associated qualifications for Stoke-on-Trent local authority. This brings with it a substantial workload and kudos for the business.
Malcolm says: “Nikki has more than proved her worth as an asset to Grove and has recently been appointed Centre Manager. The success she has made of her role proves that equality in business is not only important but vital for its success.
“She also sends out a powerful positive message to other women looking to join our industry.”
Last year we interviewed Joanne Kelly, at Gas Certification Services Ltd. near Glasgow. You can read Jo’s story, here. Jo is a shining example of how a brave career change can reap rewards. Andy McNabb, her boss, took her on initially as a Trainer and Assessor, and last Autumn she was made Centre Manager. When we spoke to her before she said:
“Andy is keen to do all he can to promote women in building services. We went together to a careers fair at a local high school before they broke up for the summer and I think something as basic as seeing a woman behind an engineering stand at an event like that helps young girls see that a career in engineering is an option.”
Things are going well at Gas Cert. They’ve been going through a restructure and are currently training several new members of staff. We caught up with Jo this week: “I love International Women’s Day; it’s a great initiative. We do all we can to promote our courses to women and the team here sets a good example, with a balance of six women to three men. We all get along very well and support each other - and we try not to make the men feel outnumbered!”
Removing industry barriers
Stephen McGreevy, Lead Business Manager and Principal lecturer at SERC (South-Eastern Regional College) in Northern Ireland, works hard to promote building services as a career for women, whether they are school leavers, returning to education or looking to develop skills in a new area. SERC caters to a wide range of courses to learners at eight different campuses based around Lisburn and County Down. He said:
“As a progressive LCL centre we are keen to promote inclusivity and diversity and we recognise that women are underrepresented within our industries. There is no room in any area of any industry for barriers to success. Where moulds are broken, or barriers removed, this should be celebrated.
“We do see change and that the demography of the workplace is changing to better reflect the balance of society and we support International Women’s Day across our college sites.”
LCL Awards Inclusivity Charter
To further support LCL Awards’ centres in becoming more welcoming places to people from all walks of life, in 2022 we launched our Inclusivity Charter, which aligns with the focus of International Women’s Day 2025.
On the IWD website it states: “At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.
"Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres."
Our Inclusivity Charter encourages LCL training centres to make the building services sector accessible to underrepresented groups, including women and other under-represented groups, by providing more accessible training options and creating more inclusive learning environments to suit the needs of a diverse range of people.
To find out more about the Inclusivity Charter click here.