A BUSINESS based in the North East is paving the way for women in trade - and is now helping some of the most vulnerable in the area.

Green Goddess Handywoman & Joinery Services, founded by Alex Henniker Speirs, says it is "flipping the status quo about women in the trade right now".

Based in County Durham, the young but successful business has a growing team of "hammer-wielding" North East women that provide services to homes across County Durham and Tyne & Wear. 

Read more: Best pie shops in the North East according to Tripadvisor

But not only do the women at Green Goddess Services work for clients - they also serve emergency accommodation across the county, providing a new level of safety to some of the most vulnerable people in the area. In the next few months, they have plans to expand their charity work even further. 

Alex said: "I firmly believe there is space for both men and women in the trade industry and I hope that we can be an inspiration to women out there, young or old, who want to enter into a traditionally male-dominated industry.

"I think in our modern age, where technology allows us to overcome the vast majority of our physical obstacles - not all of course - there is no reason why people can’t pursue the career they are drawn to, regardless of their gender."

The Northern Echo: The Green Goddess team has been working with emergency accommodation and women's shelters.The Green Goddess team has been working with emergency accommodation and women's shelters. (Image: Green Goddess Handywoman & Joinery Services)

Read more: Teesside University celebrating International Women’s Day

The all-female team help customers to feel comfortable and at ease with the people entering their home, and use environmentally friendly and locally sourced materials in their work. 

The Green Goddess team works with emergency accommodation in County Durham and will expand into women's shelters in the region in the run-up to summer. The business even has plans to provide its own training courses, helping other women to learn new skills.

Alex said: "In terms of our overall mission, we want all of those people who have ever felt nervous having workers in their home, to gain some reassurance by hiring us.

For more quality journalism, subscribe to The Northern Echo for £1.50 a week here. 

"One of our goals is to offer DIY courses for women who want to skill up, step into their power and take ownership of repair jobs at home. With the cost of living on the rise, good DIY skills are more helpful than ever."

The Green Goddess team take on all aspects of handiwork in and around the home - including small plumbing repairs odd jobs, and wall repairs, as well as all aspects of joinery work

For more info about Alex, the team, and the work they do, you can visit greenhandywoman.co.uk.