But the trades industry is far from inclusive – it still uses outdated gendered job titles like \u2018tradesmen\u2019 as a collective term to describe ALL people, perpetuating inaccurate stereotypes and excluding anyone who doesn\u2019t associate as such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2022\/09\/02145755\/petition-intro.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWe know from a recent piece of research that over 40% (42%) of 16-18-year-olds say they would be more likely to consider a career in the trades industry if more inclusive language was used in career advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, we are now calling for an end to using gendered terms in UK school career advice, and for changing content to avoid the preconceived gendering of jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why are we doing this?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIn short, it\u2019s the right thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Non-inclusive language is affecting our trades workforce today and the next generation – it needs to change if we want Britain to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We interviewed 3,000 UK residents, tradespeople and 16-18-year-old school leavers to uncover how much binary, non-inclusive language, like \u2018tradesmen\u2019 is still being used and what effect it\u2019s having. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2022\/09\/02145909\/petition-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOur research showed 80% of UK residents still use the term \u2018tradesmen\u2019 to refer to all people working within the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gendered language is also still being used in career advice in school \u2013 73% of 16\u201318-year-olds say they heard the term \u2018tradesmen\u2019 within careers advice as a collective term for all people who work in the industry, but just one in 10 (11%) heard the term \u2018tradespeople\u2019 very frequently when receiving career advice at school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The effect of this is that so many young people who don\u2019t fit the \u2018traditional tradesmen\u2019 stereotype never think of a trade profession as a viable career path – the industry and the opportunities in it are closed off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fact that 42% of 16-18-year-olds say they would be more likely to consider a career in the trades industry if more inclusive language was used just goes to show how powerful language is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A change to using more inclusive language will positively influence future generations when it comes to making career choices. If non-binary inclusive language helps people of all genders to even consider entering this field of work in the future, then the next generation of tradespeople could be a lot more diverse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHomeowners want to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nLooking at the UK as a whole, there is a demand for change; the biggest motivation for this change is to break down the stereotypes, with 52% of people agreeing that this is the most important reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second biggest reason for British homeowners is that it gives a fairer representation of the entire workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nTradespeople want to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s also huge support for a more diverse workforce among existing tradespeople within the industry – almost nine in 10 (87%) tradespeople think it would be good for more women to start working in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2022\/09\/02150148\/petition-5.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOver half (51%) of British tradespeople think people should start using \u2018tradespeople\u2019 instead of \u2018tradesmen\u2019 when referring to all people who work in the industry. And only 30% said they don\u2019t think we should adopt the more inclusive term \u2018tradespeople.\u2019 The rest being unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main driving force for change from tradespeople’s perspective is that 55% believe it would be a good way to encourage people into the industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe next generation definitely wants to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTwo in three (66%) 16-18-year-olds think \u2018tradesmen\u2019 as a collective term should be replaced with \u2018tradespeople\u2019 in career advice as a way of becoming more inclusive and less gendered. Of those that want change to happen, more girls want to see a change than boys with 69% of girls agreeing and 60% of boys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2022\/09\/02150256\/petition-4.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe top UK cities where 16\u201318-year-olds want change:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Belfast: 88% (of 16-18-year-olds say the term \u2018tradespeople\u2019 should be used as a collective term for all people in the industry)
2. Brighton: 86% = Edinburgh = 86%
3. Sheffield: 83%
4. Glasgow: 80%
5. Liverpool: 75%
6. Norwich: 74%
7. Nottingham: 73% = Plymouth: 73%
8. Newcastle: 72%
9. Birmingham: 64%
10. London: 63%<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Half of those surveyed (50%) agreed the biggest reason gender-neutral language should be used to describe tradespeople in career advice is that \u2018tradesmen\u2019 maintains an inaccurate stereotype of tradespeople just being men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow trade careers are communicated in career advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOur research also showed that less than half (42%) of 16\u201318-year-old girls were offered a trade job in career advice at school, compared to more than two thirds (65%) of boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2022\/09\/02150357\/petition-2.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen looking at how this compares in different areas, there\u2019s a stark contrast in career advice across the UK. In some areas, only 14% of 16\u201318-year-olds were offered a trade profession as a viable career option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In short, it\u2019s the right thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Non-inclusive language is affecting our trades workforce today and the next generation – it needs to change if we want Britain to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We interviewed 3,000 UK residents, tradespeople and 16-18-year-old school leavers to uncover how much binary, non-inclusive language, like \u2018tradesmen\u2019 is still being used and what effect it\u2019s having. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOur research showed 80% of UK residents still use the term \u2018tradesmen\u2019 to refer to all people working within the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gendered language is also still being used in career advice in school \u2013 73% of 16\u201318-year-olds say they heard the term \u2018tradesmen\u2019 within careers advice as a collective term for all people who work in the industry, but just one in 10 (11%) heard the term \u2018tradespeople\u2019 very frequently when receiving career advice at school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The effect of this is that so many young people who don\u2019t fit the \u2018traditional tradesmen\u2019 stereotype never think of a trade profession as a viable career path – the industry and the opportunities in it are closed off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fact that 42% of 16-18-year-olds say they would be more likely to consider a career in the trades industry if more inclusive language was used just goes to show how powerful language is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A change to using more inclusive language will positively influence future generations when it comes to making career choices. If non-binary inclusive language helps people of all genders to even consider entering this field of work in the future, then the next generation of tradespeople could be a lot more diverse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Homeowners want to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nLooking at the UK as a whole, there is a demand for change; the biggest motivation for this change is to break down the stereotypes, with 52% of people agreeing that this is the most important reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second biggest reason for British homeowners is that it gives a fairer representation of the entire workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nTradespeople want to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s also huge support for a more diverse workforce among existing tradespeople within the industry – almost nine in 10 (87%) tradespeople think it would be good for more women to start working in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOver half (51%) of British tradespeople think people should start using \u2018tradespeople\u2019 instead of \u2018tradesmen\u2019 when referring to all people who work in the industry. And only 30% said they don\u2019t think we should adopt the more inclusive term \u2018tradespeople.\u2019 The rest being unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main driving force for change from tradespeople’s perspective is that 55% believe it would be a good way to encourage people into the industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe next generation definitely wants to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTwo in three (66%) 16-18-year-olds think \u2018tradesmen\u2019 as a collective term should be replaced with \u2018tradespeople\u2019 in career advice as a way of becoming more inclusive and less gendered. Of those that want change to happen, more girls want to see a change than boys with 69% of girls agreeing and 60% of boys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe top UK cities where 16\u201318-year-olds want change:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Belfast: 88% (of 16-18-year-olds say the term \u2018tradespeople\u2019 should be used as a collective term for all people in the industry)
2. Brighton: 86% = Edinburgh = 86%
3. Sheffield: 83%
4. Glasgow: 80%
5. Liverpool: 75%
6. Norwich: 74%
7. Nottingham: 73% = Plymouth: 73%
8. Newcastle: 72%
9. Birmingham: 64%
10. London: 63%<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Half of those surveyed (50%) agreed the biggest reason gender-neutral language should be used to describe tradespeople in career advice is that \u2018tradesmen\u2019 maintains an inaccurate stereotype of tradespeople just being men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow trade careers are communicated in career advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOur research also showed that less than half (42%) of 16\u201318-year-old girls were offered a trade job in career advice at school, compared to more than two thirds (65%) of boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen looking at how this compares in different areas, there\u2019s a stark contrast in career advice across the UK. In some areas, only 14% of 16\u201318-year-olds were offered a trade profession as a viable career option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking at the UK as a whole, there is a demand for change; the biggest motivation for this change is to break down the stereotypes, with 52% of people agreeing that this is the most important reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second biggest reason for British homeowners is that it gives a fairer representation of the entire workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tradespeople want to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s also huge support for a more diverse workforce among existing tradespeople within the industry – almost nine in 10 (87%) tradespeople think it would be good for more women to start working in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOver half (51%) of British tradespeople think people should start using \u2018tradespeople\u2019 instead of \u2018tradesmen\u2019 when referring to all people who work in the industry. And only 30% said they don\u2019t think we should adopt the more inclusive term \u2018tradespeople.\u2019 The rest being unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main driving force for change from tradespeople’s perspective is that 55% believe it would be a good way to encourage people into the industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe next generation definitely wants to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTwo in three (66%) 16-18-year-olds think \u2018tradesmen\u2019 as a collective term should be replaced with \u2018tradespeople\u2019 in career advice as a way of becoming more inclusive and less gendered. Of those that want change to happen, more girls want to see a change than boys with 69% of girls agreeing and 60% of boys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe top UK cities where 16\u201318-year-olds want change:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Belfast: 88% (of 16-18-year-olds say the term \u2018tradespeople\u2019 should be used as a collective term for all people in the industry)
2. Brighton: 86% = Edinburgh = 86%
3. Sheffield: 83%
4. Glasgow: 80%
5. Liverpool: 75%
6. Norwich: 74%
7. Nottingham: 73% = Plymouth: 73%
8. Newcastle: 72%
9. Birmingham: 64%
10. London: 63%<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Half of those surveyed (50%) agreed the biggest reason gender-neutral language should be used to describe tradespeople in career advice is that \u2018tradesmen\u2019 maintains an inaccurate stereotype of tradespeople just being men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow trade careers are communicated in career advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOur research also showed that less than half (42%) of 16\u201318-year-old girls were offered a trade job in career advice at school, compared to more than two thirds (65%) of boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen looking at how this compares in different areas, there\u2019s a stark contrast in career advice across the UK. In some areas, only 14% of 16\u201318-year-olds were offered a trade profession as a viable career option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s also huge support for a more diverse workforce among existing tradespeople within the industry – almost nine in 10 (87%) tradespeople think it would be good for more women to start working in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOver half (51%) of British tradespeople think people should start using \u2018tradespeople\u2019 instead of \u2018tradesmen\u2019 when referring to all people who work in the industry. And only 30% said they don\u2019t think we should adopt the more inclusive term \u2018tradespeople.\u2019 The rest being unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main driving force for change from tradespeople’s perspective is that 55% believe it would be a good way to encourage people into the industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next generation definitely wants to see change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTwo in three (66%) 16-18-year-olds think \u2018tradesmen\u2019 as a collective term should be replaced with \u2018tradespeople\u2019 in career advice as a way of becoming more inclusive and less gendered. Of those that want change to happen, more girls want to see a change than boys with 69% of girls agreeing and 60% of boys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe top UK cities where 16\u201318-year-olds want change:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Belfast: 88% (of 16-18-year-olds say the term \u2018tradespeople\u2019 should be used as a collective term for all people in the industry)
2. Brighton: 86% = Edinburgh = 86%
3. Sheffield: 83%
4. Glasgow: 80%
5. Liverpool: 75%
6. Norwich: 74%
7. Nottingham: 73% = Plymouth: 73%
8. Newcastle: 72%
9. Birmingham: 64%
10. London: 63%<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Half of those surveyed (50%) agreed the biggest reason gender-neutral language should be used to describe tradespeople in career advice is that \u2018tradesmen\u2019 maintains an inaccurate stereotype of tradespeople just being men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow trade careers are communicated in career advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOur research also showed that less than half (42%) of 16\u201318-year-old girls were offered a trade job in career advice at school, compared to more than two thirds (65%) of boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen looking at how this compares in different areas, there\u2019s a stark contrast in career advice across the UK. In some areas, only 14% of 16\u201318-year-olds were offered a trade profession as a viable career option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two in three (66%) 16-18-year-olds think \u2018tradesmen\u2019 as a collective term should be replaced with \u2018tradespeople\u2019 in career advice as a way of becoming more inclusive and less gendered. Of those that want change to happen, more girls want to see a change than boys with 69% of girls agreeing and 60% of boys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe top UK cities where 16\u201318-year-olds want change:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Belfast: 88% (of 16-18-year-olds say the term \u2018tradespeople\u2019 should be used as a collective term for all people in the industry) Half of those surveyed (50%) agreed the biggest reason gender-neutral language should be used to describe tradespeople in career advice is that \u2018tradesmen\u2019 maintains an inaccurate stereotype of tradespeople just being men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our research also showed that less than half (42%) of 16\u201318-year-old girls were offered a trade job in career advice at school, compared to more than two thirds (65%) of boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When looking at how this compares in different areas, there\u2019s a stark contrast in career advice across the UK. In some areas, only 14% of 16\u201318-year-olds were offered a trade profession as a viable career option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Brighton: 86% = Edinburgh = 86%
3. Sheffield: 83%
4. Glasgow: 80%
5. Liverpool: 75%
6. Norwich: 74%
7. Nottingham: 73% = Plymouth: 73%
8. Newcastle: 72%
9. Birmingham: 64%
10. London: 63%<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow trade careers are communicated in career advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Rated](\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2022\/09\/02142937\/diversity-web-quality.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Rated](\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2022\/09\/02142901\/diversity-web-electrician.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Rated](\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2022\/09\/02142948\/diversity-web-glass.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n