I want females everywhere to know there’s a place for them in the motor trade
Growing up, my family and I would go to a lot of car and monster truck shows. Especially when my grandad was here, we would go the touring cars a lot. That’s where my passion originally began. Growing up, I never really saw any girls within the motor industry, so I took a step back. But, as a teenager, we were still going car shows and I came across the modified car scene and that really grasped me. From there, it just pushed my passion more and I decided to pursue automotive in college.
College wasn’t the easiest, there was two girls in the class but unfortunately, we had an older tutor who was very sexist, to the point he would say how women wouldn’t make it in the industry. We passed our Level 1 thinking he would change his mind, to which he turned around and said it’s a pointless qualification as no one wants women in the industry. I gave up again. After that, I met up with another tutor from the same college who asked why I never went back and when I told him why, he wasn’t pleased! He ended up reporting the other tutor, but I had missed the cut off to get my Level 2 at this point.
The fire was still there, so I made a point of going to local garages to see about starting an apprenticeship and personally asking for the manager or owner to ask them directly. So, my happy little nervous self walked into the biggest garage near me. I asked for the manager and explained I had my Level 1 and wanted to see about getting an apprenticeship. He stood there and just stared laughing, he told me to wait a moment, made all the lads in the back stop working and told me to repeat what I wanted. GREAT this is a test; I’m going to show them I’m serious. Proud as punch, I said it again. They laughed. They all laughed; I didn’t even get an answer they just laughed until I left. It was soul destroying. I remember it clear as day going home telling my dad, if a garage isn’t going to support me then what’s the point. I lost something in me that day and I gave up. I started a career at Tesco and worked my way up to Manager and was overseeing a whole department by myself.
Fast forward to being 21, I got a job as a Service Advisor within the motor trade at Audi. Once I turned 26, I realised I was kicking myself, missing what I longed for. The regret was heavier than being punished for wanting to make a dream a reality. I spoke to my boss, Rob Herst. He knew my passion for cars was more than a Service Advisor role and I touched the subject of trying to get a job within the workshop. He was so supportive, he didn’t laugh, he didn’t judge. He knew me, he knew I was capable. When I made it in there (it’s been a long process, but I did it!!) I started to get involved with my social media more, pushing other girls to not give up if they wanted to do it. I didn’t want anyone else to be in my position and give up with it. I wanted to try and create this whole vibe of being the person I wish I could have looked up to when I was younger. I wanted to be that for someone.
Unfortunately, during my apprenticeship I started to have complications, which is when I got my endometriosis diagnosis. I then had an operation and was out of the game for a few months whilst I recovered. I managed to get better, but unfortunately endometriosis is an incurable disease, so I will always have a downfall with it. But this year I got my Level 3 and achieved another one of my goals, which was my MOT license! There are ways of working around having endometriosis, and luckily for me, my manager Rob and my workshop controller Brad, were extremely helpful. They’ve allowed me to stay within the workshop. I now do service, MOTs and other jobs in between that are do-able without heavy lifting.
Once I started my social media pages, I started getting awards. I am the only female to ever be a mechanic in Warrington Audi, not only that but the move from service advisor to a technician got me one of my awards too. It’s such a big career change and it seemed to have made an impact. And I really hope to keep doing so. Because of the push I’ve made on my channels, Andy Entwistle recognised me. He reached out to me and asked if we could have a chat, and that’s when he said he’d seen my work and asked if I would spend the whole weekend on panel at the British Motor Show, the 5th biggest UK car show, after going through everything including endometriosis and seeing what I have achieved means absolutely everything. It means everything I went through was worth it, it means I’m making a difference, and I will continue to do so!
A lot of people think that workshops are dirty, but it’s not actually that bad. I don’t want girls to think they can’t have makeup on, or their hair done, or nails. I have my nails and lashes done all the time in there! We can look cute and mechanical at the same time! The team at Audi are the best I’ve worked with. Anyone with an illness or a disability can work in a garage. If you have a good team behind you, they will find ways to support you.
My goal isn’t just to push females into the industry, it’s anyone who wants to get in there, I want to change lives across the world. I want females everywhere to know there’s a place for them in the motor trade. You’ll spend more time regretting not doing something than going for it and failing, you’ll only ever wonder what if!
My TikTok is now at 19,000 likes and I hope it keeps growing. I hope someone looks at it and it changes their life. I hope to be someone’s role model and to make someone proud, and to make themselves proud.
