WITT supports women in trades

From the automotive sector to the construction industry wāhine from all over the region gathered for the women in trades event run by WITT Te Pūkenga and the Chamber Hub last Thursday. The event was hosted at Hel Rimu with Building Wellbeing Taranaki and Whitakers Civil Engineering there to support the night.

The event included hospitality from Te Waka Kai and a panel discussion on the barriers and success factors for women in trades.

The panel was made up of five women from different areas of the trades sector including, the managing director of Whitaker Civil Engineering, Business Owner and Operator for Taranaki Electrical Services and, president of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Wellington chapter who flew in from Wellington for the event.

“Events like this are essential to explore ways to support and encourage more women into the trade sector,” says Katrina Mayo Lead for Work-Based Learning at WITT.

The first event was an opportunity for employers and the industry to look at how they can support women in the sector and encourage more women to join.

The event was attended by more than 60 women from the trade sector who all shared the same enthusiasm and support for women in trades.

Katrina is passionate about encouraging women to enter the trade sector.

“Women make up 50% of the New Zealand population but only 13% of women are in the trades sector. The opportunities are broad and endless,” she says.

“It’s a sector that has an open entry point with extensive opportunities and great pay.”