A determined Black Country woman has succeeded in carving out careers in two male-dominated industries.
Marina 'Maz' Adams started her plumbing and heating company in 2005 after two years juggling a full time engineering career with studying for plumbing and gas qualifications.
Her business, Wolverhampton-based Mazgas, is looking for additional staff.
She said: "I originally qualified in metallurgy and pursued a career in engineering, working primarily in metal coating and AutoCAD design.
"However two-and-a-half years ago I decided I wanted to make a change moving from manufacturing engineering to the construction industry.
"So I embarked on a career switch which meant lots of evening study and long hours."
After a period working for a plumbing company, Maz decided to go it alone in 2004.
With help from Business Link Black Country she secured a Women in Business grant for £1,000 from Regeneration Zone funding, used to produce marketing material including van signage.
Catherine Bray, business adviser at BLBC who worked with Maz, said she was proud of her success forging a career path in a difficult area.
"Maz has worked incredibly hard to get where she is," she said. "This is traditionally a male-dominated profession but Maz has firmly established herself and Mazgas purely on the quality of work and service.
"It is interesting to note as a female engineer, Maz receives a high number of enquiries from both elderly and lone female customers, so from that point of view, being a female in a male world has had some advantages," she added.
Although the job involved long hours, often past 10pm, Maz said she is still thrilled that her dreams of working for herself have now been fully realised.
"I did have my own company when I was an engineer, but for the most part I was subcontracted by other firms to do jobs for them.
"Mazgas is totally different, however, and I am in complete control.
"It is hard work but I am enjoying every minute of it," she added.
