BRICKLAYING should have been a piece of cake. After all, I'm a dab hand at icing. But after ten minutes attempting to flip the mortar onto a trowel like the professionals, I realised I'd better stick to the pen.

The ladies attending the free 12-week Women Builders courses at Amersham and Wycombe College are to be admired.

They are determined to make their mark on what until now has been something of a man's world.

Some join with the intention of entering a world happy to wolf whistle at women but not so keen on sharing mugs of site tea.

It's beginning to change since IT specialist Janet Shelley realised there are plenty of women keen to master bricklaying, plumbing, plastering and electricals. Customers are lining up.

"Women are crying out to be skilled and are very good at it but they aren't always given the chance," she said.

" I've known women keen to do labouring who have only been given tea-making jobs. I have proved through my business they can be extremely good at their jobs and given a chance, women can be part of solving the skills shortage. "

She added: "There are lots of people who like female plumbers and electricians and admire their dedication and caring attitude."

Mrs Shelley, 39, runs her business in Milton Keynes and is planning a satellite office in High Wycombe.

She is about to embark on sub contracted Wycombe council projects.

One of the ladies I shared a trowel with was mother-of-two Becky Thomson, 29 of Pennington, Micklefield who doesn't plan to take building up as a career but wanted to share the DIY load with her husband.

She is a typical example of trainees.

"The main skill I wanted to learn was plastering because there are loads of plastering jobs that need doing around the house," she said.

Mayura Patel of Chiltern Avenue, High Wycombe, enjoyed the course saying: "I've had a good laugh with a lovely group of women."

Courses are ongoing. See www.womenbuilders.co.uk for details.