Women In Trades Wednesday- Nikita Ward

Nikita Ward, is a 24 year old Plumber and Gasfitter apprentice (one more block course in early 2020 and she’s finished!). “I love my job because every day is different. Working with your hands, outside what could be better?!”

Nikita was inspired to pursue a career in trades by her partner who is a builder. “I was sick of my job working with kids and he said “why don’t you try a trade?”. I did a pre-trade course and haven’t looked back.

“A typical day for me is: wake up at 5am, drive an hour to work and find out what I'm doing that day, pack the van with the gear we need for the job, get the apprentice and head out to the job site. Most of my jobs involve figuring out where appliances are going to be installed and how to get the pipes to it. There’s a lot of time spent underfloor or in the roof space!.”

Proud career moments for Nikita include being selected as a finalist in Young Plumber of the Year 2018, competing in World Skills 2016- coming in second in Wellington and 4th in the national placings. “It was a really cool experience, I met some cool people, and out of the 8 plumbers competing at nationals, 3 were female which was awesome!”, she has also passed both her gas and plumbing tradesman exams.
As far as future goals go, Nikita says “I would love to have my own company with a team of women!”

“My advice to anyone looking at a trade just do it and keep at it, people will say no but just keep at it and show them u can do it .. also plumbing isn't that bad!”