You’re Hired! Woman secures apprenticeship in a male-dominated profession

Imogene next to a Saville Motors vehicle

Imogene Scott was a manager for a large chain of hotels until she took a career break to start a family. Following the arrival of her third child, she decided she was not a ‘stay at home’ mum and wanted to go back out to work. However, she knew that she didn’t want to go back to her old profession and so set about researching a change of career; her passion for motor cars eventually led her into finding out what would be involved to become a qualified mechanic.

The opportunity to do an apprenticeship was the perfect solution for her; she would have the chance to gain relevant skills, experience and qualifications whilst she was getting paid.

Imogene has overcome many barriers prior to her starting her apprenticeship, including a lack of employed opportunities, within a male-dominated sector.

Once she had arranged childcare for her 3 children, Imogene then had to secure employment with in a garage environment; this proved to be no mean task, at a time when many companies were coming to terms with a recession and were making redundancies. Imogene was also in the tricky position of looking for work in what is a very male-dominated industry.

However, through her sheer determination, drive and commitment to succeed, Imogene managed to persuade Dave Saville, the proprietor of Saville Motors in Middleton, to give her a work trial at his garage.

Saville Motors are a forward-thinking company and were considering recruiting an apprentice that they could train for the future. Mr Saville was happy to offer Imogene a trial; he has previously employed female staff on both the recovery side of the business as well as the mechanical repair side.

Following a successful work trial, Imogene’s enthusiasm and attitude to the job convinced Mr Saville to offer a more permanent position with the company.

As part of her apprenticeship, Imogene also receives training, undertaken on a day-release basis, which will end up with her being awarding a nationally-recognised qualification. Orchard Training Solutions arranged for her to enrol at Mancat College in January 2010 and her hard work has resulted in her making very good progress with her assignments; she has even caught up with the rest of the group who started in 4 months earlier, in September 2009.

Imogene has managed to juggle, childcare commitments, manage a home, full time employment and attend college all at the same time; she is a fine example of how, through hard work and determination, having the right attitude, and a desire to make a better life for herself and family, you can achieve your goals.