She begins by sharing that her career as a plumber started after being made redundant from her job at a media company in script development during the pandemic three years ago. 

"It was a bit of shock," she says. "During the same week, I was laid off my husband and I also broke up, which came as an even bigger shock. I then found out that I was pregnant. It was a very interesting week of my life."

Fenton registered at a job centre after the birth of her daughter and took part in a scheme that offered cash for training. She decided to look into plumbing and did a short course in the trade.

Post which she applied for a City and Guilds bursary and won it. "I was so sleep-deprived that during my interview with them, I cried. I was so tired," she quips looking back.

Later, she engaged in a longer course and earned a plumbing qualification. When asked what attracted her to plumbing over the other trades. "Water," comes a quick response.

"I've always had an affinity with water. Since a young age, I've been a water baby. My star sign is Pisces, I love swimming and everything related to water," she adds.

"When it comes to plumbing, I really love the engineering and the science behind it. I think it takes a lot of intelligence to be a plumber," she says.

Andy then went on to ask her what's life like being a single parent in the industry. "I've been the only one around my daughter since day zero and the whole journey has been very tiring, to say the least, and very challenging," Fenton notes.

She did consider going back to a full-time job in media due to the expenses of raising a child. She does run a media consultancy on the side as a freelance business to make ends meet.

She loves the flexibility the trade offers her; she can devote more time to her daughter. When it comes to working in a male-dominated sector. Fenton says: "It really doesn't bother me and the great thing about getting older is that you care less and less."

Fenton adds that she loves the trade and feels she's on the right path. "It's a skill I can build upon."

The young mum also divulged her retraining journey - learning a brand-new set of skills in her mid to late-30s and creating a career in plumbing.

Going forward, she looks to take on bigger jobs and find an apprenticeship.

Listen to the whole podcast here.