Energy News

New Zealand’s female secondary school students are taking their place among New Zealand’s major energy companies to try out different career opportunities as the industry looks to solve critical skills shortages.

Throughout May and June, female school students from around the country will take part in an industry experience day, onsite with lines companies and at some of the country’s major electrical supply projects, as part of Girls with Hi-Vis® (GWHV). While there, they’ll get hands-on experience of the skills required by the electrical supply industry and hear from women already working in the sector.

GWHV is an annual event and a key initiative of infrastructure training provider Connexis. The events aim to connect female students with employers, who are keen to attract more women into key trade and technical jobs that provide vital services that keep New Zealand running. As well as the energy sector, Connexis coordinates nationwide events with employers in other infrastructure trades including civil infrastructure and water.

This year’s events are set to be the biggest yet, with approximately 900 students from 97 schools expected to attend 46 GWHV events around the country. The country’s energy sector employers hosting GWHV events in 2024 include: Contact Energy, Counties Energy, Genesis Energy, Horizon Services, Marlborough Lines, Meridian Energy, Mercury, Northpower, PowerNet, Unison Contracting Services, Ventia, and WEL Networks.

While onsite they’ll don their hi-vis gear to turn their hand to key tasks such as climbing power poles, ring main testing, cable jointing and checking out some of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure assets and projects including wind farms, solar power and hydropower stations.

Bayley Smith, a construction surveyor and drone pilot from Fletchers Construction, with Te Puke High School students (L-R) Ngapera Ronaki, Karli Russell and Bella Ngawhika

Connexis executive director Kaarin Gaukrodger says as the country’s leading infrastructure training provider, Connexis works hard to promote infrastructure careers as the industry competes with the more well known and traditional trades to attract newcomers. These events are specifically targeted to females as employers seek to increase diversity in their workforce to address critical skills shortages around the country.

“It is still far too rare that these roles are presented as viable career options to young women,” Gaukrodger says. “We find when they do learn more about the scale of the infrastructure industries and the vast range of careers available, there is a huge level of interest from students getting ready to leave school.”

“There are a lot of different trades out there that recognise the potential in young women to help them address skills shortages, but also to address the need for greater diversity in industries that are typically male-dominated,” Gaukrodger says.

“Women can approach work differently, see things differently, and communicate differently, which can add huge value when it comes to building effective and successful work crews and innovative project teams.”

To find out more about Girls with Hi-Vis, watch the video here

Inside the event

Gaukrodger adds that some of the most common feedback from teachers, when attending their first GWHV event, is that they would have rallied more students to attend, had they known more about the opportunities the day offers students searching for what to do when they leave school. It’s this interest that has seen the event grow year on year.

Here is what some previous GWHV attendees had to say about the events they attended:

“It’s good for the girls to experience other ways to get a career rather than just university, and to know there are so many opportunities within one company.” – Natasha Jeffrey, teacher, One Tree Hill College

“It was pretty interesting and fun. I didn’t know much about it before coming. The event really opened up my thinking about the industry more seriously.” – Alison Taylor, student, One Tree Hill College

“I liked that it wasn't as hard as I thought and felt like I could do it too. I am definitely keen for an apprenticeship in the trades.” – Tyra Bainbridge, student, One Tree Hill College

“I don't really like the idea of sitting inside a classroom for six hours a day. I just think that something more hands-on is more for me. I really like seeing all the different things you can do and the things you learn on the job – and that you can earn while you learn. Today has been really interesting to see all the activities that make up the trade.” – Keilani Hadfield, student, Hamilton Girls High School

School-to-work pathway

GWHV is just one Connexis initiative designed to promote infrastructure trades to school students as they start to consider their career options.

Connexis is releasing a new energy micro-credential as part of its Gateway programme. It is the first of two micro-credentials that will assist in fast-tracking students toward an NZ Certificate in Electricity Supply (Introductory) Level 2.

The Connexis Gateway programme is designed to give high school students in Years 11, 12 and 13 practical onsite experience with potential future employers and let them start working toward pre-trade qualifications.

“Students who take part in the Gateway programme can take their first steps toward a trade qualification while still at school, and while doing that they are building a relationship with a local employer which is an invaluable career boost for when they leave school,” Gaukrodger says.

“Making more young people aware of the possibilities of a career in an infrastructure sector like energy is vital to growing a skilled workforce. Connexis is committed to programmes like Girls with Hi-Vis® and Gateway, that let young people try these jobs out first-hand, rather than just telling them,” Gaukrodger says.

GWHV connects trainee to bright future

A visit to a Connexis Girls with Hi-Vis® event in 2023 opened up a whole new world for 16-year-old (at the time) Sofie McCormick.

Sofie attended a Canterbury GWHV event hosted by infrastructure services company Ventia while still a student at local Ellesmere College. With her interest piqued in an infrastructure trade career, Sofie then landed an introduction to a possible apprenticeship with Ventia.

Under Ventia’s supervision, Sofie is working as a trade assistant with the company, as a trial leading into a possible apprenticeship. The trial with Ventia gives Sofie a taste of the job while she undertakes pre-trades training. Once Sofie and Ventia are both happy for Sofie to embark on a career as an electrician, Ventia will offer her an apprenticeship.

Sofie McCormick with Ventia apprentice Harrison Prendergast

“I’ve been doing my Level 2 qualification so I’m doing course book work Monday to Thursday and then work experience on Friday,” she says. “I’ve run cables, soldered copper bars, and bolted droppers onto circuit breakers.

“All the people are really kind and easy to work with, and just learning all about electricity and how it all works has been really interesting. I had no idea about what goes on behind the scenes to keep our power running.”

Sofie says GWHV was a great introduction to working in an infrastructure trade role like an electricity supply industry electrician. “I liked how interactive it was. We did a range of different things [at the GWHV event] and I think it painted a really good picture of what kind of work you could be getting into.”

Being a part of GWHV event also introduced Sofie to Ventia, its work and the types of jobs it offered, which she hadn’t known about previously. She recommends attending GWHV events and learning more about jobs in different infrastructure sectors to other young women considering their career options.

Sofie McCormick at work onsite with Ventia

“I think this is a really good industry to get into. There are so many different paths you can take. You keep learning and learning about different things as you go along.”

Ventia apprentice assessor Andrew Massie says GWHV offers the company a great opportunity to connect with local schools and make students aware of the company’s “invisible” industry.

“We say invisible because nobody takes notice of electricity supply until it stops. We are getting ourselves into a position to be able to recruit from these schools and encourage students to enrol in pre-trade courses for future employment. Sofie is an exception to that thanks to her fantastic attitude,” Andrew says.

“We were very lucky to get 16 girls from Ellesmere College to our Girls with Hi-Vis® event last year, including Sofie. We’re hoping to get the same this year.”

Massie says Sofie’s attitude and approach to her training should ensure she has a bright future in the industry.

“Sofie has all the hallmarks of a great apprentice and tradie. She has an awesome attitude, drive, grit and determination, as well as passion for the industry. We have no doubt she will be hugely successful.”