Waitress, 24, quits her job to become a plasterer - and now runs her own business

A former waitress who quit her job to become a plasterer says she has a “huge advantage” over her male counterparts. Madi Forrest made the career change after doing a four-day plastering course while on furlough.

Although the 24-year-old initially did the course to brush up on her DIY skills, she began doing odd jobs for friends and family for free. But when she received a surprise payment of £150 she realised she could make a business out of it.

Now Madi, from Chester, realises she has a unique selling point in a male-dominated industry, with single parents and elderly customers preferring to have a tradeswoman in the house. She said: "Before I set up my business She Plasters, I thought that people, men in particular, would doubt my ability to plaster.

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“But to my wonderful surprise, the majority of people have been extremely supportive and complimentary. I get the odd male tradie who thinks I can’t do my job, but in my opinion they are just jealous that the women in trade are smashing it!”

"I face a few challenges being a woman in this job. It doesn’t happen often. But I get the odd customer who doesn’t take me seriously, or assumes that I wouldn’t be capable of doing the job, but they are soon proven wrong.

"I think I have a huge advantage being a woman in this industry. First off, it’s different, and people like different. I also get a lot of elderly customers, along with single parents.

"I think they just feel more comfortable with a female being around the house, I know I would.”

One thing which Madi does find tough is how physically demanding plastering is. But the perks of running her own business make it