Girls with Hi-Vis® most successful year with with 23 workplaces opening their doors to 539 students from 64 schools in 11 regions around NZ.

Key findings from GWHV student attendees:

Before attending GWHV event:

Q. Did you have an idea about a career in the trades or services?
A. 55% NO

After attending GWHV event:

Q. Do you feel more confident about a career in the trades or services?
A. 95% YES

Q. From your time at today’s event, do you feel more prepared with the skills you need in further education or employment?
A. 95% YES

Connexis was involved in the Women in Trades Research Consortium in partnership with other ITOs.

This was 3 years of research, with the findings released in 2019.  The project aimed to support getting more females into trades across industries that are traditionally male-dominated.

The research formalised understanding of barriers for females from both a trainees’ perspective and employers.  Personas were also developed to highlight what traits make for successful women in trades.

The reports and findings can be found here.

The Civil and Water industries joined the Energy sector in promoting and hosting Girls with Hi-Vis events.

By 2015 Ultimit was no longer trying to change the perception of the Electricity industry in terms of employing females.  The industry was on-board and keen to recruit females.  The new challenge was now finding females keen to join.

As Frances Hague the Ex-chair said – the project had moved from Revolution to Evolution.

In 2015 the Ultimit brand was rebranded to be Ultimit:Women in Infrastructure.  Incorporating all the infrastructure industries serviced by Connexis, Civil, Energy, Telco and Water.

It was recognised that the women already working in the industry had been introduced by a family member or friend. So under the Ultimit umbrella a brand a new initiative was launched  – Girls with Hi-Vis®.

The concept of GWHV was to invite our customer companies to open their door for the day and have their employees invite their sisters, daughters, cousins along with school students to their workplace and get a taste for the industry.

The first Girls with Hi-Vis (GWHV) events welcomed 48 attendees at 7 GWHV events.

In 2013 the Government undertook a rationalisation of Industry Training Organisations (ITO) and ESITO merged with the Civil Construction ITO Infratrain to form Connexis.

Ultimit is given further commitment with this ITO merger.

Having a project manager the Ultimit story was formalised with more information made available to industry partners on recruiting females.

Ultimit: Women in Infrastructure began as a research project called “Women in Power” – led by Chair Frances Hague of the then ESITO Board.

It was recognised that the industry was missing out on an opportunity during a time of significant skills shortage, and when the industry was constantly on the Immigration New Zealand Skilled Shortage list.  While women made up 50% of our population they were significantly underrepresented in trade and technical roles within the Electricity sector, making up only 2% of the workforce.

The research set out to better understand the attitudes and perceptions of operational people in the sector in terms of employing females.  The Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MWA) partnered with ESITO on the ‘Women in Power” project.

The results highlighted the entrenched views, that this was not an industry for women. It was clear where the focus needed to be; on changing the minds and perceptions of those making the decisions. A significant change was required in recruitment and workplace practices and culture.