Embracing a trades career after working as a carer has greatly enhanced a tradesperson’s professional journey.
After working as a carer for five years, Gayle Bowden soon found her next calling in trades after helping her friend with revamping their bathroom.
After getting a job off the back of her experience and labouring for five years while learning on-the-job, Gayle decided to move across to LiveWest, and since joining she hasn’t looked back.
Gayle, based in Cornwall, said: “A friend of mine was doing their bathroom and I said ‘I will labour for you’ to keep the costs down and after it was all done, he said would I like some work with him as his labourer. So, I did that part time for a little bit and then he took me on full time.
“But they couldn’t really give me the hours I wanted so I had no job security at all because I was self-employed. So, I decided to leave and came across a labourer’s job with LiveWest, so I just went for it.
“The crossovers between caring and working for LiveWest aren’t that dissimilar especially with residents, you’re going into peoples’ homes and helping them, which is very rewarding.”
Gayle, 41, joined LiveWest in 2022 as a Building Labourer in the In-House Maintenance Service (IMS). While working with us, she has been able to undertake a diverse range of jobs.
Despite trades being less common for women, her children are used to her being a tradesperson because it’s been her background and something they’ve seen her develop in.
Mum of two, Gayle, said: “Being self-employed is really hard especially if you have a family along with a mortgage to pay being self-employed, for me, I found it really very difficult financially.
“My family were very happy I was going into trades and very supportive as they have been with everything I’ve done. I’ve had several different jobs so I think they were quite glad that I got this job with a company like LiveWest who can offer that security.
“LiveWest has offered all-round support, if I’ve had to leave and go and sort my kids out or needed a doctor’s appointment or anything like that, they’ve been really good at flexible working.
Gayle’s transition from carer to tradesperson has been great for her and her family are really pleased that she’s found a job she enjoys.
She is very relieved to have found recruitment through LiveWest after struggling with self-employment, especially with having two children to look after she wanted somewhere that could offer her more stability as well as a pension, benefits, and training.
Gayle said: “I’m definitely glad I went into the trades profession and I’m glad I’ve found LiveWest to be honest because they’re a supportive company in every way and the benefits you get along with your job like your pension and the health benefits, with a family you can’t fault it.
“When I turn up at a resident’s home the reception is positive especially from the older clients, I think because quite a few of them appreciate a female at the door because it makes them feel more comfortable and particularly as well with the single mums who may be at home by themselves so it can put them at ease.
“I feel the industry is changing for the better and the men within the industry are changing for the better, I’ve had no negativity from anyone. But they also all seem quite happy to have a woman there.
We recently held a Women in Trades Taster Day at Exeter College Construction Centre and Gayle is encouraging women to consider trades as it’s something she is proud of.
She added: “If you see any open days, you should come and give it a go because you get to try a range of different things and you might find that what you thought you want to do, that something else suits you better. It means you can talk to people already here which may be beneficial for you.”
Our apprenticeships will be live from 17 June on our careers page.