Jennie Jones, a gas engineer and plumber, has launched a new autobiography titled ‘Pipe Dream, Chasing A Man’s Job’, which highlights some of the issues and challenges faced by women in the plumbing industry.
A growing demand from homeowners for female plumbers was cited during the launch, saying surveys have found that a significant number of older and female householders would prefer a female tradesperson.
For the last eight years, Jennie has run her own heating and plumbing company in Weymouth. Jennie said that she’s “achieved things she never thought possible”. However, she said she has also faced workplace injury, childcare issues, sexism, stress and exhaustion.
Jennie’s plumbing van has hot pink seats, and a pink pipe carrier. Before retraining at the age of 38, Jennie was a journalist. She wrote arts pages for a series of magazines and newspapers, including eight years working for the Daily Telegraph in Sydney.
Jennie’s book is set to be released on 15 November this year.