Founding
Stopcocks was founded in 1990 by Hattie Hasan after being unable to find a job as a plumber while she trained as the only woman at Leeds College of Building. She has since run the company successfully serving over 10,000 customers across the UK.
After leaving a successful teaching career and qualifying as a plumber Hattie started Stopcocks to deliver the high quality of service and customer care that was lacking at the time. Always dedicated to empowerment and education Stopcocks not only provides the highest quality of work but has respect, peace of mind and aftercare built in as standard. The purpose of Stopcocks has always been to deliver the best service whilst educating the customer at the same time.
The higher purpose of Stopcocks is to address Global Water Issues and as such has always been a supporter of WaterAid and other water related causes.
Latterly, Hattie has dedicated her activities to leaving a legacy for women wanting to become plumbers and customers wanting to use female plumbers by creating the new Stopcocks.
Only 3% of trainees are women, and less than 1% of all plumbers are female. The problem is there is no infrastructure for new female plumbers to enter. Stopcocks is creating both an online and offline community of female plumbers that can be found online by customers
Stopcocks gets connected
In 2006 Stopcocks got online and began to spread the brand across the UK.
Ever since it then its website has grown and continues to grow to this day bringing more and new exciting features to its users.
Stopcocks expands and becomes an agency
Between 2007/8 Stopcocks expanded its branding further and became an agency for female plumbers, while still delivering its high quality services and products.
It quickly became clear that there was more demand than plumbers.
As well requests for plumbers, Stopcocks receives requests from women all over the country who are in training and need support. Stopcocks aims to put trainees and plumbers in touch with one another.
The Stopcocks Business Scheme
Due to this high demand, The Stopcocks Business Scheme was developed as a way of helping new female plumbers start their own business and realize their own potential. This was the culmination of years of research, discussions with women in training and the training institutions themselves, plus a collection of business and technical mentors.
The Business Scheme received national recognition in the press when this article appeared in April 2010 in The Independent.
Mission Statement
The Business Scheme is only one part of the Stopcocks dream.
We aim to have every major city in the UK represented by Stopcocks by 2015 and make the company a household name for trustworthiness, reliability and quality along with an army of self employed female plumbers in business under the Stopcocks umbrella.
Stopcocks have an education initiative to tour schools and colleges taking the message that plumbing is a real option for girls in the future. Our aim is to reach at least 300 schools/colleges in the next 3 years.
Starting Business
Plumbing can be an expensive business to start with tools, transportation, training all adding to the costs. Along with our partners, we take the risk out of starting up in business for yourself. The fully functioning website will enable you to search for the best ways to train.
Also available will be the ability to find a fellow female plumber to work alongside and when you are ready to step out on your own Stopcocks will be there to help you make those first steps.
Our membership options start from just £10 per month.
Contact us for more info and to join our mailing list info@stopcocks.net
