Inviting women to choose a career in infrastructure could be the key to success for New Zealand’s pipeline of infrastructure projects, says the sector’s leading training provider.

Connexis, training provider for infrastructure industries such as civil, energy, telecommunications and water, hosted Girls with Hi-Vis (GWHV) events around the country each June, with the goal of attracting more women into careers in the sector and helping ease serious skills shortages.

GWHV involved employers inviting female secondary school students onsite at some of the country’s key infrastructure assets, sites and projects for hands-on experience of the skills and experiences on offer when training for an infrastructure trade.

A key component of Connexis training was that it’s on-the-job, with apprentices working and getting paid as they study for their qualifications.

Connexis executive director Kaarin Gaukrodger said GWHV offered a unique opportunity for “real-world” experience for young women who may not have considered the opportunities available to them as an infrastructure trade apprentice.

“Our industries are keen to draw the attention of women toward infrastructure careers, as women have shown to add real value into the crews and teams they work with,” Gaukrodger said.

“Women can bring a different approach to jobs which can benefit everyone. For example, they might adapt physically demanding tasks to find a new way of doing them. That can reduce fatigue and improve safety onsite for everyone. Other valuable skill sets they might bring are attention to detail and good communication skills.”

Gaukrodger said most of the infrastructure industries they work with were facing severe skills shortages, so they were reaching out to everyone in their local communities to make them aware of the career opportunities available.

“Infrastructure apprentices and trainees have the chance to work on huge projects, operating impressive machinery with lots of opportunities to grow, while keeping our communities connected, healthy and safe.

“The employers understand the opportunity that comes with bringing more females into their workforce, which is why so many of them have long supported GWHV. Our job is to make sure infrastructure trades are front-of-mind for the next generation of young women when they’re making decisions about their future careers. GWHV is a really effective way to do that.”

As well as showcasing skills and offering the potential to work in some amazing locations, GWHV introduced the students to potential employers and other women already working in the industry, who share their own experiences and the career pathways that can open up through work-based learning and apprenticeship training.

“They see first-hand how the work they’re doing benefits their own local communities as well as the whole country,” Gaukrodger said.

“With 43 of the Government fast-track projects announced last year designated as infrastructure, it is an exciting time to be starting a career in these trades. There is the potential to be working on projects that will have a huge impact on the country.”

While onsite at one of the 30 events being held around New Zealand in major infrastructure sites such as wind farms, hydro power stations, highway construction projects and water treatment plants, several hundred students will don hi-vis gear to try tasks such as installing a water meter, working in confined spaces, driving diggers and trucks, climbing power poles and jointing cables.