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HELEN TAPS INTO WHAT WAS A MALE PRESERVE WITH PLUMBING MOVE
Leaking taps, bubbly, banging boilers and creaking old radiators might be a complete mystery to some women - but not Helen Knowles.She is the first Corgi-registered female plumber in Devon - and perhaps the South West.
And her lighter touch has proved a winner not only with women but has brought out the chivalrous side in her male customers.
Helen, 37, gave up a successful job with a firm of estate agents to break the mould with a dramatic career change.
She said: "It was something I really wanted to do and I didn't want to continue just doing my old job.
"So I decided to re-train - and I have never looked back."
Helen, who is married to Devon County Council worker, David, sought to learn her new skills at a training college off Topsham Road.
She said: "I am now a fully qualified plumber. I didn't start up on my own straight away but worked for a firm in Sidmouth to get experience.
"After that, I set up my own business, PFP Services, which stands for Professional Female Plumbing.
"I am based in Kenton with a van and cover all of Exeter and East Devon.
"It has turned out to be very good.
"Women customers in particular seem pleased to see me and I have pulled up to people's home and the lady of the house has said she wants me to do the job even before I can give an estimate, just because I am woman.
"Women do seem to prefer having a woman because quite often they feel they have been ripped off by men in the past.
"There is a physical aspect to the job, too - carrying old boilers and hefty radiators about - but quite often, if there's a man in the house, he is only too happy to give me a hand to carry anything that is weighty, and so will women.
"The other thing I notice is that men don't feel intimidated these days about a woman doing this sort of work.
"There is a new generation who don't know anything about do-it-yourself and so don't feel guilty that a woman has come in to do the job.
"They sometimes like to ask just what I'm doing but other than that they are fine.
If you want to contact PFP Services, it can be reached on 07886 780155.
Sent: 04/07/2007
Email us direct at: repairs@londonheatingservices.co.uk
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