Celebrating women in apprenticeships for IWD25

To commemorate this year’s International Women's Day (IWD) on 8 March 2025, we’re celebrating women in apprenticeships at the College.

According to 2022/23 data published by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education in March 2024, the number of women and men on apprenticeships is about 50/50 (51.2% for women and 48.8% for men), but men make up the majority of apprenticeship starts in construction and the built environment 92.0%, in engineering and manufacturing this is 91.3%, in transport and logistics this is 82.7%, in digital it is 69.6%.

Women make up the majority of starts in education and childcare at 93.2%, hair and beauty at 93.5%, care service at 81.3%, and health and science at 74.4%.

At Leicester College, we have 161 women in apprenticeships, with 29 in construction, seven in engineering and the remaining 125 in other sectors.

We’ve got some amazing, inspirational women in apprenticeships at Leicester College. Read some of their stories below:

Ruby-Renee Voss - pioneering in the electrical industry

According to a 2024 Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) report, women now constitute just 1% of the electrical workforce in the UK. However, there are many opportunities out there for women to develop a career in the sector and this is what inspired Ruby-Renee Voss to sign up for an electrical apprenticeship at Leicester College.

From a trades background

Ruby-Renee begins: “What made me want to become an electrician is that my family are in the trade and my dad has his own company. My mum has worked for other companies to do with the trade as well.

“I think that you learn so much from doing a trade. It's hands-on, and quite inspiring to do something different and learn in a different way, really.

“I chose an apprenticeship because I needed to learn a new skill and it helps to listen to others who have knowledge and experience. So, the apprenticeship was the best way to go for it. It's been the best thing to do.”

The value of an apprenticeship

Ruby-Renee continues: “I'm not very good in an office environment. I need to be quite hands-on and by doing an apprenticeship, you learn so much and at the end of your apprenticeship, you actually get a qualification out of it.

“The best part of the apprenticeship so far has been team building and making friends. You also learn something new every day. I've learned so much that I didn't expect to.”

Facing up to the challenges

Talking about the challenges of being a woman in the electrical sector, Ruby-Renee adds: “Some people don't like seeing women on-site as it’s not ‘traditional,’ but whatever challenges you face, you have just got to be confident in yourself, know that you are in the right place and that you're doing the right thing.

“My advice is to keep going, focus on yourself, keep your head on and just keep going to prove yourself.

“My family and friends have been so supportive, as it was quite nerve-racking applying for an apprenticeship. They’ve helped to give me the confidence I need to do the apprenticeship.

“It's hard at first because you have to build up a bit of confidence, and kind of pull yourself together and just go for it. But after you do it, it's so rewarding because you make new friends, and you do become really close with people on-site as well. So many more women are also joining sites and trades. I think it's amazing, so to other women thinking about it, I would say just go for it!”

Keep improving

“My goals are to keep pushing myself. When I finish my apprenticeship, I will still need a bit of experience and knowledge in the field because although I might be qualified, I might not be the best that I can be just yet.

“In the far, far future, I would love to start up a company myself, and possibly have other women from different trades and have a trades company just for women. Sometimes, if you go to some houses, they're not very comfortable with having men in the house and that's completely fine. But if we can give them something that will make them feel relaxed and comfortable, I think that's amazing,” concludes Ruby-Renee.

Erin Horne – apprenticeships are a great choice

Erin Horne is studying on the Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship at Leicester College. We asked her some questions about her experiences:

Why choose an apprenticeship?

If you’ve always been practical and creative and enjoy making things, an apprenticeship could be a great choice. Personally, I like that I get to go to different jobs every day - you're not stuck in the same place or doing the same thing all the time. Each job is different, and that keeps it interesting. It’s never boring.

How your employer has supported you

My employer has been really supportive during my apprenticeship. They gave me a free multi-tool, which has been really handy, and they’re always good at explaining things. I never feel bad for asking questions, which has helped me learn a lot.

Would you recommend an apprenticeship?

Yes, I’d definitely recommend it! People say it’s a good time to get into an apprenticeship because fewer people are entering the trades. With demand going up, skilled workers will always be needed, so it’s a great opportunity.

Your advice to others

Make sure you’re with an employer who supports you. Having the right attitude is really important—some days it’ll be cold or tough, but if your attitude isn’t right, you won’t get far. Be confident in yourself and willing to learn.

Skills and knowledge that you’ve gained I’ve gained a lot of confidence by learning from different people in various trades. I’ve improved my problem-solving skills and learned to take initiative. I’ve also become much better at carpentry, which is a skill I’m proud of.

Wishing a happy International Women’s Day to all of our students, staff, friends and families!

Click here for more information on apprenticeships at Leicester College