Stories

Tue, 29 Sep 2026

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 'I like proving people wrong': The women taking up DIY and plumbing

Female DIY experts and tradeswomen talk about their experiences of a traditionally male-dominated domain.

* Jasmine Gurney, a DIY influencer, has documented her various home improvement projects on Instagram and says she's been inspired by other women who have taken up DIY and trades.
* Despite being a former marketer, Gurney now enjoys doing DIY tasks while pregnant and with her young child, saying "I'm just showing that we are capable, we are interested in this sort of stuff".
* Gen Z women are leading the charge in challenging traditional DIY stereotypes, with 82% saying they've been inspired to do more DIY themselves after seeing women on social media.
* Demand for female professionals is rising, and some women are changing careers to take up trades that they see as more AI-proof than their desk jobs.
* Bliss Cunneen, a 28-year-old plumber from south London, says she loves the freedom and flexibility of running her own business and credits online content with broadening attitudes towards women in DIY and trades.
* Anna Moynihan's platform TaskHer connects female tradies with customers who need jobs done, and has seen a significant increase in enquiries and tradeswomen signing up this year.