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About us

About Women and Manual Trades

Women and Manual Trades (WAMT) is the national organisation for tradeswomen and women training in the trades.

It was formed in 1975, and to our knowledge, was the first group formed by women to promote working in construction and building services as a positive and enjoyable option for women. More information about our history can be found in our publication ‘Building the Future – 25 years of Women and Manual Trades’ available from our offices.

Though there is often press attention given to women working in non-traditional occupations, there are in fact very few women working in today’s construction industry. Those that do often feel isolated and face sexism and harassment. However the construction industry, suffering from a skills shortage, is keen to recruit women to the trades.

Our aim has always been to represent and support women working and training in skilled trades. We provide, and develop, services that respond to the needs of our member tradeswomen. We want to increase the number of women working in industries where they are underrepresented, and to help them improve their prospects and economic capacity.

In Spring 2012, the Trustees of Women and Manual Trades appointed Andrea Kelmanson as Interim Chief Executive, commissioning her to produce a Strategic Review of the organisation which could guide it through the coming years. Andrea’s review is available online now – click here to read it.

WAMT is currently funded by Trust for London and CITB-Constructionskills.

Our registered office is at 52-54 Featherstone Street, London, EC1Y 8RT Telephone No: 020 7251 9192. Fax No: 020 7251 9193 Email: info@wamt.org

Women and Manual Trades is a registered charity no: 1063652 and company limited by guarantee no: 2962569.