Ideal Boilers and Pink Plumbing have joined forces to develop a local specialised training academy for women in the plumbing and heating industry.

Philippa Cunningham, founder of female-only Pink Plumbing, is determined to improve access to training for women who wish to persue a career in plumbing.

Ms Cunningham said: "I’m aiming high – I want to change the face of the construction industry! I want to make it so that women can enter the industry more easily and know that there will be a strong support network in place for them. I want to help women build their careers, build their own businesses.”

Ms Cunningham is currently establishing her own training academy in Derby with the support of Ideal Boilers. She continued: “The support I’m already receiving from the industry is fantastic. Ideal has been alongside me from the start of this project, helping with funding for the building, supplying boilers for the trainees to work on and providing invaluable support, advice and encouragement.”

Ideal's head of marketing Carrie Young said: "It’s great to see Philippa’s passion, and to work alongside someone who has such ambition to encourage more women into our industry.