For a third consecutive year, the June “Girls with Hi-Vis” initiative will encourage infrastructure industry workers to invite sisters, daughters, friends, cousins and wives to experience a working day on the job.
This year Girls with Hi-Vis has teamed up with Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) to cross promote the #BuildAKL campaign across the region.
Visionstream, WaterCare, Counties Power, Tauranga City Council in partnership with Downer; Mainpower, Contact Energy, Meridian, Horizon Energy Group, Genesis Energy; City Care, First Gas, and Vector, are partnering the initiative welcoming women to experience their company and industry during the month of June.
The infrastructure industry is already short of skilled staff in New Zealand and predicts more than another 25,000 workers are required to meet demand over the next three years.
Infrastructure ITO Connexis which represents civil, energy, water and telecommunications, sees women as key to filling these roles.
“While women make up 50% of the country’s population, less than 4% of Connexis trade and technical trainees are female,” says Connexis interim chief executive David Worsnop.
“We’ve identified women as a key potential source to help staff the workforce, and we are actively supporting industry to promote and increase numbers,” says Worsnop.
Women around the country will don hi-vis jackets to try their hand at jobs that are traditionally more popular with men during the annual ‘Girls with Hi-Vis’ initiative.
“Women are just as suited for the jobs and offer a different skill base, which adds value to the teams they work in,” says Worsnop.
“Infrastructure companies recognise that women bring with them high attention to detail, good safety practices and help to lift team productivity,” he says.
“We’re aiming to encourage more women to start a career in the industry and build a stronger network of women in the infrastructure industry, which in turn nurtures inclusion, success and sustainability through mentoring and support,” says Worsnop.
