Plumbing anyone?

Hi everyone,

It’s been a grey overcast weekend here… is anyone tackling a bit of traditional weekend DIY? It’s only a few days until our monthly meeting – our topic this month is ‘Life Skills’…

Vital event info: 
When: Tuesday 24th September, 7.30pm
Where: Slug & Lettuce, Above Bar Street, Southampton (our usual meeting venue)
Things to bring: Nothing apart from any questions you’d like to ask our speakers!

We’ve got three inspirational women lined up to talk you through their careers as mechanics, plumbers and doctors while passing on some handy hints along the way.  They will also be on hand to answer any of your questions (about their fields of knowledge only!) – here’s your chance to find out what you need to keep an eye on when you’re checking over your car, how to fix that leaky tap or what to do when you need some quick first aid…

This week we’re featuring another one of our speakers, Emma-Jayne Langton.  Here’s a bit to whet your appetite for Tuesday…

Emma

“I have been a plumber and heating engineer for over 15 years now. I got into it when I bought my first house and needed a plumber. I called someone out who charged me the earth for a simple job and I realised I could have done it myself, so I went to college and did just that.

I was lucky to be taken on straight from college by a lovely man, who is still a very close friend. He helped me gain the on-site knowledge and confidence I needed. I have always made sure that no concessions are made for me as a woman. If I need to lift a boiler onto a wall by myself or carry it up 3 flights of stairs, then I do. It’s this attitude that has helped me become respected in my career. I often walk onto a building site full of men who raise an eyebrow, but within a few days I am considered just another person on the job, with some of them turning to me to help or advise them.

In January 2013 I decided to stop sub-contracting and set up my own business E.J Plumbing and Heating.  It has been a very busy and successful year. In July I was a finalist in the New Business category of the Southampton Venus Awards.

My job isn’t without it challenges, but I really do love it and there is nothing else I would rather do.

If you have any plumbing or heating problems that you think I could advise you on, then I look forward to hearing them and I may have some tips for you to try!”

If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask or a topic you think other Sotonettes would benefit from being discussed, let us know.  You can tweet us @Sotonettes, message us (publicly or privately) on Facebook or drop us an email.