Where there’s a will

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WHERE THERE’S A WILL...

There’s nothing stopping women getting into a plumbing career, says Bayley Wilkie, who is setting a new benchmark for young women tradies to follow.

AUTHOR: PETER WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY: ALAN STEVENS AND MARTYN DAVIES

Twenty-four-year-old Bayley Wilkie has proven that hard work, a desire to learn and showing initiative to get your foot in the door pays off. Bayley is in the fourth year of her plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprenticeship, hosted by John Wilson at Laser Plumbing Te Puke. She hopes to qualify next March.

Last year, Bayley won the national Laser Plumbing Employee of the Year Award, contested by qualified tradespeople throughout New Zealand.

“When my boss told me he had nominated me and I had got through to the last three, it gave me more confidence to know he viewed me that highly,” she says. “It was an honour and a privilege to make the finals but then to take out the award, I was super excited. It is the biggest achievement in my career so far.”

Earlier this year, she was also awarded a Masterlink Apprentice Outward Bound Scholarship to attend a 16-day leadership course in July. Plus, she was one of three Masterlink apprentices to be presented

Fourth year Masterlink apprentice Bayley Wilkie knocked on many doors before being taken on by Laser Plumbing Te Puke—and her determination has paid off in spades.

Career starters

Bayley at the 2022 New Zealand Plumbing Awards with her grandfather ‘Pop’ Roy Poole, who encouraged her into a plumbing apprenticeship.

with a Plumbing World Scholarship at the New Zealand Plumbing Awards in June.

Bayley also took part in a Women in Plumbing, Diversity and Inclusion panel discussion held at the New Zealand Plumbing Conference.

In Year 13 at Mount Maunganui College, her favourite subjects were PE, Outdoor Education, and Hospitality and Food Nutrition. Plumbing was not her first choice as a career option. Initially, she wanted to be a personal trainer because she loved sport but, after working at a gym during a Gateway programme, she decided to change focus.

Bayley’s family played a big part in her career choice. Her dad is a roofer but her mum didn’t want her to do that, so Bayley took her granddad’s advice and looked at plumbing.

Bayley worked as a labourer for a year, then signed up with Masterlink to begin her apprenticeship.

She went door knocking at plumbing companies but found the going tough until she visited Laser Plumbing Te Puke, where John told her she could start Monday.

Bayley worked as a labourer for a year, as he already had two apprentices, then signed up with Masterlink to begin her apprenticeship.

Even though there are not many women plumbers around, Bayley says people have treated her with respect, particularly the teams at Masterlink and Laser Plumbing Te Puke. “They are really supportive. If there is anything I need help with, they are always there, and the other tradies and apprentices treat me as an equal.

“There is no barrier for females within the industry. It is really good. I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given. I can do the same job the boys do. There is nothing that can stop you reaching the end goal and result you are trying to achieve.

“If you don’t want to be in an office and you want to get out there into a trade, I highly recommend it to anyone.”

This article is reproduced from Issue 24 of Leaving School magazine from Oliver Lee Publications. www.leavingschool.co.nz