The Best Tradeswoman category in this year’s Best Business Woman Awards 2015 has begun its search for women delivering outstanding service in a UK trade industry job.

The award is open to any women working in a trade, from plumbers to gardeners – each entrant simply needs to demonstrate why customers believe their business to be the best.


Women currently represent just 6% of tradespeople in the UK, according to an Ironmongery Direct survey conducted in 2014, though that number looks set to grow.


As such, BBWA 2015 looks to highlight the benefits women bring to business and encourage young women to follow in winners' footsteps.


Also promoting the role of women in industry, National Women in Engineering Day on 23 June aims to celebrate the achievements of underrepresented female workers in the field.


Minister for Equalities, Caroline Dinenage, said there needs to be greater encouragement for females to pursue a career in engineering and related industries, acknowledging that a proportion of only 6% of UK engineers being female is unsatisfactory.


“The government is contributing to this by encouraging young women to keep studying STEM subjects [science, technology, engineering and mathematics], helping them to consider a broad range of careers and supporting women in all workplaces to balance their work with responsibilities outside it,” she said.


Vehicle leasing firm Vanarama, which has a 50% female management team, is sponsoring the Best Tradeswoman category as it looks to recognise the contribution of women to the industry.


The company is encouraging UK tradeswomen to enter the competition with the prospect of becoming an ‘award-winning tradesperson’, saying it provides valuable third party endorsement that can boost income.


Andy Alderson, the company’s managing director, said: “It’s clear that women now represent a significant, if still small, proportion of the trades sector, and with the growing UK economy, this trend for female tradespeople looks set to continue.


“We thought it was about time the nation recognised the vital and increasing role women are making in trades today. By sponsoring this award we can showcase some of the best tradeswomen in the country, helping them to boost their business potential too.”


The award entry deadline is Tuesday 22 September, 2015 and winners will be announced on Thursday 15 October, 2015. Full details of how to enter the Best Tradeswoman Award 2015 can be found by visiting: www.vanarama.co.uk/latest-news/best-tradeswoman-2015