Women in the Highlands are flying the flag for females in trades by helping to plug the national skills shortage.

Inverness College UHI reported a 40% increase in applications for construction-related subjects from women over the past six years, in areas including Carpentry, Painting and Decorating, Plumbing and Electrical, as well as Construction Management, Architectural Technology and Quantity Surveying.

Sharon Barrie graduated from Inverness College in 1994 with an HNC in Architectural Technology and is now Project Manager in the Property and Architectural Services department of Highland Council. She also lectures in Computer Aided Design at Inverness College part time. The 36 year old, who is originally from Beauly but now lives in Inverness, combines her construction career with raising her two year old daughter.

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Sharon said: “I was quite naïve at first and didn’t actually realise the construction industry was so male dominated. However, when I first started with the council, I was the only female employed in the drawing office at that time and I did feel that I had to prove that I was as good as everyone else. Nowadays, there are lots of women doing all sorts of disciplines and it is much less male dominated.

“I think there has been a shift in the perception of the construction industry over the years and there’s more information on the careers available. The reality is that it is very dynamic and diverse, providing a wide range of careers from general to very specialised and provides opportunities for personal development and career involvement. There is a shortage in some disciplines and trades so skilled workers are in demand.”

Angus Macleod, Head of School of Construction and Forestry at Inverness College, said: “We are delighted to see more women coming to the college to study construction-related subjects and hope they continue to do so as they play a vital role in a variety of specialisms.”

(CD/JM)