“I can do this”

To say Brydee King has taken the road less travelled to her plumbing apprenticeship doesn’t quite do it justice. NZ Plumber talks to Brydee about her journey to date and why she thinks more women should get stuck into a plumbing career.

In her past jobs, Brydee has helped develop human medical treatments from pig cells, taken 111 calls for the Police, and managed the admin for major mechanical projects. All this while raising her two sons, Thomas and Sam, who were three and one at the time. But when she saw a chance to get on the tools and start a new career with Deep In Plumbing in Taupō, she jumped at it.

While on maternity leave, Brydee helped out with some of the admin at Deep in Plumbing to support her partner Frans van Diepen, who owns the business. Then, when an apprentice left, they needed another pair of hands to help run water pipes at a corn chip factory.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ I really enjoyed it, and it just felt like I’d done something really constructive during the day,” she recalls.

The initial idea was that, by getting some on-the-job understanding, she’d be able to process the paperwork better and spot any gaps. However, she enjoyed being on the tools so much she didn’t want to go back to the office.

A passionate advocate

That was three years ago, and in that time Brydee’s love for plumbing has continued to grow. As well as improving her own skills and capabilities, she has become a passionate advocate for women in AUTHOR: NICK WALKER

Juggling business and family life often means their two boys coming with Brydee and Frans to work sites. Brydee is shown here with son Sam, who’s four.

trades—to the point where she has other women reach out to her via Instagram.

“I’ve had a few girls who’ve wanted to get into plumbing contact me about what I think of it. I’m more than happy to encourage them and I tell them to just get stuck in.”

Brydee doesn’t mind being a relative rarity as a woman plumber, and almost pokes fun at herself by spray painting her tools pink. She draws the line at pink work boots, though.

“My favourite boots were discontinued in New Zealand and it was so hard to find women’s boots that weren’t overly pink or purple,” she says. “They think that’s what chicks want I guess… I don’t hate pink, but I just want normal boots like anyone else.”

In fact, Brydee would love it if her gender wasn’t a big deal at all.

“I remember going to a house in Manurewa to replace a shower. I showed up and the kids there said, ‘Mum, I thought you said the plumber was coming,’ and their Mum said, ‘She is the plumber.’

“I thought, ‘Yes! This is what I want—I want kids to see that women can do this stuff.’ It’s so great if people can see someone doing something and not be shocked by it. Those kids might then think becoming a plumber is something they could do.”

“I want kids to see that women can do this stuff. Those kids might then think becoming a plumber is something they could do.”

No special treatment

Frans is all for it too. He admits being the boss of a company where your partner is an apprentice is a bit different, but insists Brydee has to pull her weight just like anyone else.

“I just think it’s awesome. I don’t give special treatment, she’s just a typical apprentice—she gets under the house and all the usual stuff. She’s really good at work; she just gets on with it. Then we go home and she’s the boss again.”

Brydee’s help has been crucial in enabling Deep In Plumbing to set up in Taupō, after being run in Auckland for the last 10 years. Frans is back and forth between the two regions, and Brydee holds the fort while he’s away.

That’s just one part of the juggle of being a family-owned business, which often ends up with one of their boys coming to work sites. Brydee considers them lucky for having the flexibility to cater for their kids.

“For school trips or if the kids are sick, with us both being the boss we can make it happen. In the same breath, it’s tricky because often it’s me who has to take the early days to pick them up or drop them off, so it means that I can’t do consistent 40 hour weeks like other apprentices.”

Brydee and six-year-old son Thomas dig in together.

Strength in difference

All told, Brydee says the fact she’s a woman doesn’t really change too much. She doesn’t mind admitting she isn’t as strong as some of the other plumbers, but says she brings strengths in other areas.

“I knew a guy 20 years ago who was a cop, and I was trying to join the Police at the time. He said, ‘If you wanna be a female cop, you don’t need to be manly and butch. The benefit of you being a female cop is your sensitivity and different ability to reach people.’

“It’s the same working in trades; I can tackle things in different ways, explain things to customers and relate to them well. The skills that come from being female are actually really great, and definitely not a weakness.”