**UK**: The TaskHer platform, co-founded by Anna Moynihan, aims to tackle gender disparity in the £56 billion trade services sector by connecting consumers with skilled tradeswomen, while supporting their professional growth and fair pay within a predominantly male industry.
In recent years, the trade services industry in the UK has faced mounting criticism for its gender disparity, with women constituting only 5 per cent of the workforce in a sector worth £56 billion. This systemic issue, characterised by biases and stereotypes, has led to the launch of innovative solutions aimed at rectifying these inequalities. One such initiative is TaskHer, co-founded by Anna Moynihan and her husband Paul in 2020, after they encountered bias while seeking tradespeople for their home renovations.
Moynihan’s experience highlights a common challenge: tradesmen directing their attention solely to male figures in the household. This prompted the couple to develop TaskHer, a digital platform designed to connect consumers with skilled tradeswomen, ensuring they receive both quality service and fair representation in a male-dominated field. TaskHer not only facilitates access to these qualified professionals but also supports tradeswomen in building their careers.
The core functionality of TaskHer revolves around streamlining the booking process. Homeowners can select the desired service, outline the job at hand, receive estimates, and communicate directly with their chosen tradeswoman through the platform’s messaging interface. The platform acts as an intermediary, holding payments securely until job completion to enhance trust and accountability for both customers and tradeswomen.
Moynihan elaborated on the broader implications of TaskHer in a recent interview, stating, “Our platform not only ensures that clients receive skilled professionals who communicate effectively, but it also fosters collaboration with tradeswomen to set market-leading rates. These rates truly reflect their skills and expertise, ultimately helping them increase their wages.” This approach aims to combat the pay disparity often experienced by women in the skilled trades sector, providing them with a supportive community and professional connections.
The UK is currently facing a shortage of 166,000 tradespeople, exacerbated by a lack of targeted recruitment efforts to attract more individuals into the industry. TaskHer is actively contributing to reversing this trend by partnering with businesses, associations, and charities to inspire more women to pursue careers in skilled trades, encouraging mentorship and support networks.
To finance its growth, TaskHer operates on a marketplace model, taking a 25 per cent commission from each booking while allowing tradeswomen to retain the majority of their earnings. The platform has reported a remarkable 79 per cent increase in revenue over the last financial year and is now exploring B2B opportunities to further expand its profitability.
Innovatively, TaskHer has recently introduced the ability to produce bespoke estimates for larger or more complex jobs, enhancing customer convenience and transparency. Moynihan noted, “We’ve recently introduced estimates for larger or more complex jobs, allowing customers to get a clear idea of costs without the time-consuming process of arranging an in-person assessment.”
Having previously secured £350,000 in Pre-Seed funding, TaskHer is now pursuing an additional £300,000 through a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube. These funds will aid in their expansion into new cities, including Bristol, Brighton, and Manchester, where they have already cultivated communities of tradeswomen prepared to engage in this empowering venture.
Reflecting on the journey of TaskHer, Moynihan expressed pride in transforming a negative personal experience into a beneficial business model. “We’re incredibly proud to have turned a negative experience into a business that not only fills a market gap but also empowers and positively impacts the people who use it,” she remarked.
TaskHer’s efforts highlight the ongoing movement towards gender equality within the skilled trades, as the company endeavours to reshape the landscape for future generations of women in the workforce. As the crowdfunding campaign nears its conclusion, the platform continues to gain momentum, providing vital opportunities and fostering a supportive environment for tradeswomen across the UK.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Image: TaskHer
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is recent, referencing ongoing activities and a crowdfunding campaign, indicating it is up-to-date. However, there is no specific mention of very recent events or developments that would confirm it as the latest news.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from Anna Moynihan are included, but without specific references to earlier sources. This suggests they might be original or recent, though it cannot be verified without further research.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable tech publication (Tech.eu), which generally enhances credibility. However, the specific claims about TaskHer’s operations and impact would benefit from additional verification from diverse sources.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about TaskHer’s mission and operations seem plausible given the context of gender disparity in the trades industry. The narrative aligns with broader societal efforts to address such inequalities.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent, well-structured, and plausible. Quotes are included but lack specific references. The source is generally reliable, enhancing the credibility of the information presented.