In an industry where women are often underrepresented, we are proud to share the story of our recent Women-Only Electrical Repair Event held in Acton.
Co Hosted by the West London Waste Authority (WLWA), this session was more than just a workshop—it was a powerful step toward bridging the gender gap in technical skills and electrical engineering.
We were delighted to have Material Focus join us at the event to share their expertise with the community. As an independent not-for-profit organisation, Material Focus is on a dedicated mission to stop the valuable, critical, and finite materials found inside our electrical items from going to waste. By highlighting the importance of recycling and reusing electronics, they help ensure that the precious resources inside our gadgets—which are often in limited supply—are recovered and kept within the circular economy rather than being lost to landfill.
In addition to this, we had a special visit from Contactus Ealing, who covered our event on social media. We were lucky enough to win free event coverage for this workshop as part of their International Women’s Day efforts.
The energy in the room was electric (pun intended!) as women from across the community gathered to pull apart toasters, fix kettles, and master the basics of electrical safety.
Empowerment Through Repair
For too long, technical repair and electrical maintenance have been seen as male-dominated fields. This event was designed to create a safe, supportive, and jargon-free environment where women could feel confident asking questions, handling tools, and making mistakes.
By providing a women-only space, we removed the “intimidation factor” that often keeps women away from DIY and technical learning. The result? A room full of empowered individuals ready to take their home maintenance—and potentially their careers—into their own hands.
A Success in Skill-Building
The feedback from the Acton event was overwhelming. Participants didn’t just learn how to swap a fuse; they learned the “why” behind the fix.
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Confidence Boost: Many attendees arrived feeling unsure about handling electrical items and left with the confidence to troubleshoot at home.
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Waste Reduction: Every appliance repaired during the session is one less item heading to a landfill, directly contributing to our mission of a circular economy in West London.
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Bridging the Gap: By showing that technical skills are for everyone, we are actively challenging stereotypes and encouraging more women to consider pathways into our Level 2 Accredited Training and facilities management roles.
A Quote from the Team
“Seeing the transformation in Acton was incredible. You could see the ‘click’ moment when someone realised they had the power to fix something themselves. This isn’t just about repairs; it’s about breaking down the barriers that suggest certain skills are ‘for men.’ We are building a more inclusive, skilled West London, one woman and one repair at a time.” — Craig Winters, Operations Manager, Action West London
Since we started this series of workshops last year 50 participants have complete the workshop across five west London boroughs As a result we have seen that
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72% of all participants have rated their workshop experience as Excellent.
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84% of attendees expressed a firm desire to pursue a professional career in electrical fixing and appliance maintenance.
The results from Acton, combined with our previous workshops, confirm that there is a massive demand for technical skills training and green career paths in our community:
These figures prove that our programme is not just teaching a hobby—it is building a skilled workforce for a more sustainable future.
What’s Next?
Did you miss out on the Acton workshop? We are excited to announce that our next “Repair, Learn, and Certify” which now officially and accredited course will run in Richmond on May 21st.
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Location: Richmond (Venue details confirmed upon booking)
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Date: Thursday, 21st May 2026
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Focus: Small electrical and electronic repair basics certification
You can book your place here