Tradie Lady Leads the Way for Women in the Handyman Industry

With only 11 per cent of women making up the construction industry¹, Hire A Hubby, Australia’s largest handyman franchise, is on a mission to encourage more women to enter the handyman industry and challenge the stereotype of a traditional tradesperson.

The trades industry is predominantly men working in construction, painting and carpentry but one Hire A Hubby franchisee, Emma Stone from Victoria, is setting an example for other women by becoming the go-to Tradie Lady in the Caulfield South community.

Seeing an opportunity to enter the industry, Emma was determined to challenge herself, expand her skills and knowledge by breaking away from the traditional administrative female-focused roles to a more hands-on and practical environment where she could make a difference in the local community.

“Everyone is always nervous trying something different for the first time but the more you do it the more you learn and the more confidence you gain as a result. You need to have a bit of faith and trust that you are just as capable as anyone else.

“Being part of the Hire A Hubby community has been rewarding as you are surrounded by industry experts who have a wealth of knowledge and experience but you also have access to a network of people who are always there to support you, which is a bonus for any new business owner,” said Stone.

Research shows that from an early age, women are unaware that they can achieve a career in trades due to a lack of personal connection from a family role model or through educational options available to them. Additionally, they’re introduced to these opportunities much later in life through recruitment and even then, not as often as their male counterparts.²

“I am lucky that I come from a family of tradespeople. As a young girl I was always helping my grandfather with repairing and building things for our home using a wooden lathe. My brother is also my business partner and coming from a DIY household, I’ve always been encouraged to get my hands dirty with building, fixing and general home maintenance. However, I understand that if you don’t have that existing connection it can be overwhelming figuring out where to begin.

“The good thing is that if you’re a woman with a trade, Hire A Hubby go above and beyond to support their franchisees so that they are set up for success – it’s a great option for those who don’t know where to start,” added Stone.

Stone says some of the easiest jobs make the biggest difference to a home and although many customers are often surprised to see a female tradesperson working on site, she believes the community is welcoming diversity and starting to thinking differently about the handyman trade.

“The majority of clients find me very approachable and are comfortable asking me questions. The only way to tackle the stereotypes and challenges in this industry is to just do a really good job and prove that gender doesn’t make a difference to the quality of service or workmanship,” said Stone.

All Hire A Hubby franchisees are police checked, fully certified and offer a workmanship guarantee.