Women are increasingly doing what used to be male-only jobs, and Barrie Farnsworth talks to a female chimney sweep and a painter plying their trade in Derbyshire.
A FORMER Old Brampton man, Mick Smith, who has been running AS Chimneys since 2010 from his home near Kirk Langley, took on a young woman, Rhiannon Hammond-Wright, as a chimney sweep last summer.
There are no apprenticeships yet in chimney sweeping – or stove installation, which is another integral part of the business – but there is now an NVQ Level 2, which Mick passed when the qualification was set up two years ago… and he is about to be a ‘guinea pig’ for a new NVQ Level 3.
But now Rhiannon (29) has been judged by an NVQ assessor, who watched her clean several chimneys recently and then interviewed her three times to test her knowledge of the sweeping business. The good news is that she has met the required standard, and is waiting for her certificate now.
It is worth noting that all chimney sweeps and stove installers should be either NVQ qualified or working towards that qualification.
Mick said: “With the drive to improve air quality leading to the adoption of eco-design stoves that emit much less smoke, it is now more important than ever that sweeps are properly qualified and that stoves and chimneys are swept and serviced regularly.”
Rhiannon had lots of jobs before joining AS Chimneys, including spells in McDonalds, Tesco, even funeral arranging – “I was stuck in a branch on my own” – and domiciliary care, none of which she really enjoyed.
But she loves sweeping chimneys – even though she says she gets the ‘odd look’ from people who cannot believe it’s a woman’s job.
“I have been doing this job for over a year now and I still get the odd look when I turn up to sweep their chimney,” Rhiannon said. “Still, I get a lot of compliments when I have finished – especially from women.”
“I particularly love using the tools of the job – always a drill – and sometimes a jigsaw and a grinder,” she added.
What is most surprising is that Rhiannon is not the only female chimney sweep in Derbyshire, as Mick explained: “I know of at least three women, including Rhiannon, doing the job around Derbyshire.”
AS Chimneys does lots of work for the National Trust in Derbyshire – Rhiannan recently helped Mick clean three chimneys in the family wing of Kedleston Hall – with properties at Hardwick Hall, Calke Abbey, Ilam and Sudbury Hall also on the firm’s ‘sweeping list’.
But perhaps its biggest customer is the Duchy of Lancaster, with around 100 properties near Tutbury Castle needing their chimneys swept regularly.
Sue Ready, founder of This Girl Can Paint in Chesterfield, started her career 20 years ago working behind the trade counter of a local builder’s merchant, but then decided to set up her own business, which turned out to be just before the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said: “I’ve always loved painting, decorating, art and just being creative. Deciding to become my own ‘boss’ was the scariest thing ever but I also had this feeling of being an imposter within a very male-dominated sector.”
This hasn’t held her back as the business has gone from strength to strength. “I haven’t taken on any new apprentices yet, that’s my next step as I move into 2025,” she added.
Does she get the ‘odd look’ any more? “Not any more, but in the early days I used to get looks of disbelief when I’d turn up to quote; I’d get asked if I have a ladder or if I’ll work that high up,”
Sue added: “I want to encourage other women and girls who have a dream and a passion, to go chase it and turn it into reality. You can do anything you set your mind to, and if you get to work doing something you love, it will never feel like work again!”
Editor’s Note: To find out more about AS Chimneys, go to www.aschimneys.co.uk or Facebook aschimneysweeps email info@aschimneys.co.uk or call 01332 824212.
To find out more about This Girl Can Paint, go to Instagram and Facebook accounts: @thisgirlcanpaint.co.uk or the website www.thisgirlcanpaint.co.uk Sue’s email is hello@thisgirlcanpaint.co.uk or call 07851 204094.