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From the frontline - Ellie King
Ellie King, gas fitter at Fortem, talks about her dislike of going into lofts and of the need to encourage more women into the trades
Tell us about your job.
My job mostly involves fixing and servicing boilers and fires in Birmingham City Council tenants’ homes. On an average day, I visit between five and 10 properties.
I began at Fortem in 2013 as an apprentice plumber. When I qualified two years later, I trained to become a gas fitter and I qualified in February.
Why did you decide to become an apprentice?
When I was younger and people asked me what I wanted to do as a job, I’d say a firefighter, mechanic or electrician. I’ve always liked seeing how things work.
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You’ve switched from electrical installation to plumbing and gas fitting. Why was that?
I had my daughter shortly after leaving school. As soon as she could talk, I sent her to nursery so I could train to become an electrician.
I almost qualified, but didn’t manage to gather the hands-on experience I needed for my NVQ portfolio. I found it difficult to get experience without the qualification, and without the qualification I couldn’t get experience.
I’d had enough of going around in circles, so when I saw the plumbing apprenticeship advertised with Fortem, I had to go for it. I needed that break.
What is the best part of your job?
I really like maths, and gas fitting involves lots of calculations. Also, it’s good to have a chat with tenants while I’m working.
What’s the worst part?
Going into lofts to check flues and chimneys. There can be rats up there.
Recently, a tenant asked me if I’d seen the wasp nest in their loft. I hadn’t, but I took a torch back up with me and saw I’d had my hand in a million dead wasps.
What would you change about the housing sector?
I’d love there to be more women in trades. When I’ve attended careers fairs in senior schools on behalf of Fortem, the girls see you’re in construction and they don’t engage.
We need to start working with primary school-age children, so we can catch them before their ideas are set.
If you could be prime minister for the day, what would you do?
I’d sort out the funding for schools and colleges. Everything seems to be getting cut.
What’s the most private thing you’re willing to admit to your colleagues?
I chat to my colleagues in the morning, when I pick up the van, and when I go to the stores to pick up parts. There’s always a ‘mothers’ meeting’ going on – men are worse than women for gossip!
