North East electrician blazes a trail for women in STEM and looks to spark an interest amongst the next generation
South Shields-based electrician, Megan Archbold, has only been a business owner for 18 months but already she is making a big impression in her industry.
Having first founded Trailblaze Electrical Services in May 2024 to work around a full-time job for another electrical firm, the fledgling start-up has now turned into a successful business that has seen Megan not only go self-employed on a full-time basis but also branch out into EV charging installation and outdoor lighting. She says,
“Ever since I started as an apprentice electrician in 2018, I’ve really wanted to become my own boss. I was fortunate to work within another company in order to train and gain my qualifications but I was always passionate about setting up Trailblaze.
“By April 2025 I’d found that my reputation was growing in the local area and I was getting enough referrals by word of mouth to go self-employed full time.”
Reflecting on her experience with new clients, Megan says that she’s enjoyed a particularly positive response from those who’ve perhaps been surprised to find a female electrician working in the local community.
“I understand that I occupy a little bit of a niche as the only female electrician in the local area.
“If anything, I think being a woman has worked in my favour because some of my clients have been older women living on their own – people who might feel safer welcoming in a woman like myself into their home. I’ve even had comments from people saying how nice it is to see a female electrician providing a role model for young girls.”
Now an established South Tyneside business, Megan hopes to use her standing to encourage more young women to explore careers in STEM and not be scared to try their hand at trades. She says,
“I am passionate about helping to show that women can be successful tradespeople and that it is a rewarding line of work for girls. I’m now working with colleagues to develop a Tradeswomen’s Alliance that will help to spread this message.
“We are looking at opportunities to go into schools and help to make more girls aware that working in trades is a potential career path for them and that taking an interest in STEM subjects opens lots of doors.”
Megan credits the help of a business loan from the Business Enterprise Fund and the support of TEDCO Business Support in helping her accelerate the growth of Trailblaze:
“I genuinely don’t think I would be where I am now if I hadn’t had the support from TEDCO to pursue this path. From the classes and sessions I attended that gave me confidence in how to set up a business right through to accessing a business loan.
“For any young women looking to follow a similar path to me, I’d always recommend taking advantage of the support out there and not being scared to ask for help to get started in business.”