A WOMAN who followed in her father's footsteps on building sites back in Ireland is now the only female electrical installation lecturer to have taught at Ealing Acton and West London College.
Roselle Hoyne, of Caithness Road, Brook Green, Hammersmith, moved to England from Kilkenny, after getting a job teaching at the college's Southall campus aged only 22.
Two years later, she has become a permanent and respected member of the teaching team at the college's Acton campus.
Ms Hoyne said: "For me it was a great career opportunity, the teaching element's a bonus. It was just a case of being in the right place at the right time.
"Just because you studied to be an electrician doesn't mean that's the only thing you can be; there are so many different avenues you can take. I really recommend it."
At times Ms Hoyne can find herself being the only woman in the room and occasionally younger than some of her students.
She said: "As a young woman I received a lot of stick and I had to earn the students' respect. At first they could be cruel and I had to prove myself. But when you show them you
can do the job just as well as a man, they forget you're a woman."
She wants to get more women to enrol on the course, and said: "I believe there is a massive gap in the market for female electricians; for instance, the elderly can be much more comfortable allowing a woman into their home."
Not content with just her teaching role, Ms Hoyne is also an events manager for her sister who teaches cookery
at her business venture, Gastro School.
In what spare time she has, Ms Hoyne is studying for a BA in professional cookery at the University of West London, and training for the New York Marathon later this year.
For more information on the Electrical Installation course at Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, visit www.wlc.ac.uk.
Beckie Rowe ..SUPL:
