HOW many women does it take to change a lightbulb?

At a workshop next week, Kate Hutchings will be showing that it is only one, with a women-only event set to teach the basics of electrics.

The founder of Aircrew Electricians, who has been working the sockets and wires of Swindon for seven years, saw a gap in the market and hopes to plug it with her class.

Up to 20 women will be free to attend the two-hour lowdown on how to fix a fuse box or wire a plug at Rudis Bar & Kitchen, starting at 7pm next Tuesday.

“I couldn’t see anywhere else that anybody could learn the skills,” said Kate, of High Street, Wroughton.

“There didn’t seem to be anybody introducing the basics. There were no classes showing people how to fix their fuse box or perform basic tasks in the home.

“I am talking about men just as much as women.

“I found that men seemed to be prepared to have a go whether they knew what they were doing or not.

“The women, on the other hand, would only have a go if they felt confident with what they were doing.”

The 45-year-old came to the trade late in life, after spending much of her career in the international removals business, based in London, working for clients such as the Foreign Office and Australian High Commission.

Since receiving a flying experience voucher as a gift, Kate has had a passion for everything airborne and when redundancy struck she wanted to do something which would allow her to follow her dream.

Becoming self-employed was her route to saving the money required to put herself through the various courses and become a flying instructor.

Her interest and flare for electrics has proved distracting however, and with the costs of pursuing a flying career mounting, she has stuck with Aircrew in Swindon.

“When I was made redundant the timing couldn’t have been better because, at the time, I was looking to become a flying instructor,” she said.

“I couldn’t at the time because I was tied to my job in London.

“The only way I could follow my dream was through a job where I was in charge.”

To book a place on the course, call Kate’s brother and employee, Gareth Hutchings, on 07885 957121.