Polly Britten: Gender Equity Advocate in Skilled Trades
Take a break, we’re on Smoko. This week, we’re joined by Polly Britten, 2023 Churchill Fellow and passionate advocate for women in skilled trades. Polly dives into her extensive research on how to make trades education more inclusive for women and non-binary youth—and how early, intentional change can transform the industry.
Her work, developed through her fellowship and the NextGen Tradies - Try a Trade Program, offers a roadmap for creating equitable pathways into skilled trades. From integrating exposure at the school level to shifting leadership culture, Polly lays out practical solutions for educators, policymakers, and employers alike.
“The biggest change starts with recognizing unconscious bias and actively working to break stereotypes at every level—from daycare to industry leadership.” – Polly Britten
We discuss the importance of mentorship, authentic representation, and cross-cultural learning—highlighting leading programs and organizations from Australia, Canada, Germany, and Denmark that are helping close the gender gap in trades.
Listen to the Episode & Connect with Polly
Organizations Mentioned in the Episode
- Apprenticeship Support Australia – @apprenticeshipsupportaustralia
- Women’s Health Grampians – @womenshealthgrampians
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) – @britishcolumbiaiit
- Girls’ Day (Germany) – @girlsday_de
- Build a Dream (Canada) – @webuildadream
- Jill of All Trades (Canada) – @jillofalltrades
- Boss Ladies (Denmark) – @bossladiesdk