On Monday, 12 June, a group of students interested in construction careers attended an inspiring and hands on “Girls With Hi Vis” event at Fletcher Living’s Whenuapai housing development. Jasmin Lawrence, a finalist in this years National Women in Construction Awards, is the housing development’s site manager and organiser of the event. She planned a day jam packed with construction experiences and apprenticeship information. Students learnt what roles apprentices can enter from the ground up – from concrete laying, carpentry, joinery, engineering, electrical, house design, plastering, painting, brick laying; as well as account management and project management.

Students were informed of the limitless pathways in construction for women, and owners of electrical, painting and carpentry companies explained the benefits of having women in their teams; a particular aspect they value is the attention to detail a woman tends to bring to these roles.

A special part of the Whenuapai housing development is that it will feature a remarkable new home – one that will be planned, designed, built, marketed, and sold entirely by a team of more than 40 women.