New research has revealed almost one third of UK home owners would rather hire a female builder over a male builder.

The Federation of Master Builders' (FMB) latest study reveals 30% of home owners would feel more positive about hiring a female builder or tradesperson to complete a task in their home, as opposed to a male builder or tradesperson.

In addition, 35% of women said they would feel more positive about hiring a female builder or tradesperson to complete a task in their home.

On a regional basis, more than a quarter (27.9%) of Scottish home owners said they would hire a female builder over a male builder, compared with 38.1% in Northern Ireland and 28.5% in Wales.

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Across the UK, homeowners listed their reasons for preferring a female builder over a male one;

• 51% think female tradespeople might be more respectful of their home

• 46% would like to support more women working in non-traditional job roles

• 42% might feel more at ease with a female tradesperson

• 37% think female tradespeople might be more trustworthy

• 35% think female tradespeople might be friendlier

• 30% think women often have better attention to detail than men

• 20% prefer the company of women

• 18% relate better to other women

• 16% would be a novelty and a welcome change to hire a female builder

Overall, nearly two-thirds of the general public said they wouldn't care whether their builder was a man or a woman. However despite feeling more positive about hiring a female tradesperson, 30% fewer respondents said they would encourage their daughter to pursue a career in construction than their sons.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: "The construction industry is in the midst of a skills shortage and until we appeal to women – who obviously make up fifty per cent of the population – we're unlikely to dig ourselves out of this skills hole."

(LM)