A PINT-sized trainee welder is showing her mettle by matching more muscular men on the shop floor.
She may be only 4ft 11ins tall, but Jenny Morgan from Ross-on-Wye is making a big impact as the first female welder at a Forest engineering works.
The 24-year-old trainee, with size 2 feet, has joined the 60-strong staff of the UK’s only British-owned road sweeper manufacturers, Stock Sweepers of Mitcheldean.
She was one of two promising trainees chosen during a weekend workshop designed to attract staff with no previous experience of welding, alongside fellow trainee Dan Hayes, 29.
And, undaunted by being the only woman on the shop floor, Jenny, who started work two weeks ago, said: “All the guys have been very welcoming and it’s pretty cool leading the way here as the only girl.
“I’ve never been a role model before, but I hope other girls will follow in my footsteps.”
Jenny, who has worked in retail and admin since leaving John Kyrle School in Ross-on-Wye, said she jumped at the opportunity of the welding workshop after a demoralising spell applying for 50 jobs and getting one interview.
Fellow trainee Dan, had been a painter and decorator in Chepstow before moving his family to Cinderford.
He said it was a great chance to learn a new skill and join such a friendly workforce.
“These two shone above the others at the weekend workshop,” said production manager Richard Sleeman, who has high hopes of the pair.
The workshop was his inspirational idea to attract new recruits onto the factory shop floor.
Following its success, Richard will be planning further recruiting weekends for other skills.
Managing director Jeff Stock is delighted that the production manager he took on three months ago is using his initiative.
The family firm founded by Jeff in 1998 has expanded on to three sites in the Forest of Dean.
The road sweeper arm at Vantage Point Business Village exports to Europe, Australia, India, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand – and Russia is now in the pipeline.
It has doubled its production over the past few years and Jeff claims Brexit has helped so far with the weakening value of the pound.
With his order books full and a new business emerging in vacuum excavators at Sling, Jeff and his two sons, director Mitch and lead CAD technician Tom are certainly enjoying the sweep taste of success!