A WORCESTER business which seeks to provide female workers in traditionally male-dominated industries has scooped a top award at the Houses of Parliament.
Heather Thurlby’s female tradesperson scheme was named among the UK’s most exciting start-ups and rewarded with a £2,000 grant and a year of free business mentoring.
The 42-year-old, who has worked for Bosch for 14 years as an administration assistant, dreamt up the idea after research revealed some customers preferred a female trades person in their home.
As a result, her site offers female trades people in plumbing, construction, labour, mechanical engineering and electricians.
At the event, each of the business owners to make the final pitched to a panel of business experts including Simon Lancaster, founder of both SJL Insurance and the SJL Foundation and former Dragon’s Den star and founder of gift experience company Red Letter Days, Rachel Elnaugh.
Simon was born in and lives in Worcester, where SJL Insurance also has over 65 staff headquartered in Worcester.
“I feel amazing. I am so incredibly proud of myself being recognised as one of Britain’s best start-ups,” she said.
“Since finding out I have won, I have decided to put the grant money towards the setup of the website.
“This will be the pinnacle of my business. Once it is built my business really begins.
“Entering and winning this competition has put me completely in the right mind-set. I believed in myself before but this has created more evidence that I can literally do anything.”
Mr Lancaster, founder and trustee of the SJL Foundation said: “There is a lot of distrust in tradespeople and we can see Heather’s platform dispelling some of the myths out there and giving buyers more confidence when sourcing people to do work for them.
