Jordyn Angus has just stepped into the industry as an apprentice plumber, drainlayer and gasfitter having completed her level three certificate at WelTec. She is currently doing on-the-job training with a Wellington-based company helping fit Rinnai gas units into a development.
As a school student at Sacred Heart in Lower Hutt, Jordyn joined a Trades Academy course in year 12. With trades fast becoming her passion, at the end of that school year, Jordyn enrolled at WelTec.
“Being a woman in trades is not easy, even in my class at WelTec I was a minority and I know that can be intimidating for some women,” says Jordyn. "But the tutors at WelTec are very supportive and did not treat me any differently from the guy students, they also helped me find my job. There is a perception in trades that women can’t do as much as men and that is not true. My advice to other female students is to stay positive and show them that you can do it!’
Jordyn receiving her top of class award from tutor Tony Putaura.
Jordyn was awarded the top student in her class at WelTec and was a mentor for other students during her course.
Shahin Nikth Bi is an electrical student and has just been awarded a M Walton scholarship.
Shahin arrived in New Zealand after school and some part time study in Fiji. She got married and started helping her husband in his carpentry business assisting with accounting and other services. After she had their child, Shahin decided that she would like to secure some formal qualifications so that she could start her own business. Seeing that there were not many women in the construction sector, she set her sights on starting an electrical business that employs just women.
“I want to encourage all women, including my daughter, into trades so they can become independent and run their own business,” says Shahin. “My advice to any women thinking about studying trades is, be confident and have faith in yourself. Also, learning has no age criteria, you can always start studying whenever it is right for you. And being a mother does not mean you can’t study.”
“We are proud of all ākonga, but it is particularly pleasing when we see wāhine (women) succeeding in trades training and out there in the workforce,” says Leanne Ivil, Te Kaiwhakahaere | Operations Lead at WelTec and Whitireia. “Jordyn and Shahin are fantastic examples, and I hope their stories will encourage even more women into our trades programmes,”
“We are focused on contributing graduates to the workforce that is needed for the pipeline of major housing and infrastructure developments in the Wellington region, and empowering women into the trades is a critical part of this,” says Mark Oldershaw, Tumu Whenua ā-Rohe 3 | Executive Director, Region 3 at Te Pūkenga. “Projects like the large housing development in Porirua East, the RiverLink in Lower Hutt, Wellington Water projects, aged residential care in Kāpiti, the Ōtaki – Levin highway extension are where we will be looking to link our graduates to job opportunities.”
