Fergus > Case Studies > Empowering Gender Diversity in Electrical Industry: A Case Study of Little Miss Electrical

Empowering Gender Diversity in Electrical Industry: A Case Study of Little Miss Electrical

Technology Category

Actuators - Electrical Actuators
Sensors - Electrical Conductivity Sensors

Applicable Industries

Electrical Grids
Electronics

Use Cases

Time Sensitive Networking

Services

Training

About The Customer

Little Miss Electrical, founded by Cathy Cockin, is a UK-based electrical company that stands out in the male-dominated industry due to its female leadership. The company started at the end of 2017 and has grown rapidly since, currently employing nine people including Cathy. Little Miss Electrical is known for its professional, consistent, and repeatable customer experiences, which is partly facilitated by the use of Fergus, a software solution for tradespeople. The company is also recognized for its advocacy for gender equality in the trades, and has been receiving job applications from other women since its inception. The company is planning to continue its growth and aims to bring two new members on board by the end of the year.

The Challenge

Cathy Cockin, a young business owner in the male-dominated electrical industry, faced several challenges in her journey to establish her own company, Little Miss Electrical. Initially, she was working in a legal firm, but her interest in electrical work was sparked when she had to renovate her house and the electrician was too busy to help. She decided to retrain as a domestic electrician, but faced skepticism due to the speed at which she learned the trade, as it typically takes four years to complete an apprenticeship. Additionally, entering the industry as a late starter was challenging as many companies were reluctant to take on apprentices over the age of 19 due to higher wages and the need to fund part of their college course. When she started her own company, she was unsure how to brand herself or stand out in the market.

The Solution

Cathy found a solution to her challenges by leveraging her unique position as a female electrician. She started her own company, Little Miss Electrical, and branded herself as a female electrician, which was a unique selling point in the male-dominated industry. To overcome the challenge of learning the trade quickly, she broke up her 5-week intense learning course for domestic wiring into single weeks, and worked with an experienced electrician in between. This allowed her to gain practical experience while learning, effectively creating a quicker apprenticeship. As her team grew, she adopted Fergus, a software solution for tradespeople, to manage jobs and communication within her team. This helped streamline operations and improve customer experience. She also used Fergus Forms to share custom-built forms with her staff, making it easier for them to send required information back to her.

Operational Impact

The adoption of Fergus software has significantly improved the operational efficiency of Little Miss Electrical. It has streamlined job management and team communication, making it easier for the team to handle a large volume of jobs. The use of Fergus Forms has also simplified the process of sending required information back to Cathy, ensuring that nothing is forgotten. This has resulted in a professional, consistent, and repeatable customer experience, setting Little Miss Electrical apart from its competition. Furthermore, the company's unique branding as a female-led electrical company has not only helped it stand out in the market, but also encouraged more gender diversity in the industry. Cathy's success has inspired other women to enter the trade, and she has become a role model for gender equality in the industry.

Quantitative Benefit

Little Miss Electrical has grown from a one-woman operation to a team of nine in just a few years.
The company is planning to add two more members to the team by the end of the year.
Little Miss Electrical has been able to handle a massive volume of jobs due to the operational efficiency brought about by the Fergus software.