New Zealand’s female secondary school students are taking their place in New Zealand’s major infrastructure companies to try out career options.

Throughout May and June, female students from around the country have spent time on site at some of the country’s major infrastructure projects as part of Girls with Hi-Vis® (GWHV). While there, they’ve had hands-on experience in the skills required, and have learnt about the jobs on offer with their local employers who are building New Zealand’s infrastructure. They’re also able to connect with, and hear from, women already working in the industry about what it’s like to work in an industry with a massive scale of work, and that offers endless opportunities for career growth.

GWHV is an initiative of Connexis, infrastructure training provider to the civil, energy, telecommunications and water sectors. Connexis partners with employers to put on GWHV, with the aim of attracting more women into key jobs in infrastructure. This year’s GWHV has been the biggest yet, with close to 900 students from 97 schools attending more than 40 events. 

Connexis Executive Director Kaarin Gaukrodger says Connexis works hard to promote infrastructure careers as the industry competes with more well-known traditional trades to attract newcomers. GWHV events are targeted to women, as employers seek to increase diversity in their workforce to address skills shortages and increase diversity of thought.

‘It is still too rare that these types of roles are presented as viable career options to young women,’ says Gaukrodger. ‘We find when they do learn more about infrastructure industries and the range of careers available, there is a huge level of interest from students getting ready to leave school, and we’ve seen some great success stories from those that have gone on to join the industry.’