First female to make sparky finals
In an industry dominated by men, an Auckland woman is showing the guys how it’s done.
Mt Albert resident Harmony Court, 23, recently competed in the 2016 Electrical Apprentice of the Year Competition.
Court, along with one other contestant, were the first two female electrical apprentices to ever make it to the final of the competition in its 15 year history.
Despite not winning the final, Court says she will be back next year as she has unfinished business.
‘‘I’ll definitely be coming back, I’ve got to win it,’’ she says.
Women make up about 3 per cent of the electrical industry.
While Court has never met another female electrician in Auckland she says she has never felt as though she has to prove herself.
‘‘Yes, it is a boy’s club, all trades are and it has a certain stigma. But that’s never been an issue for me.
‘‘The quality of my work shows for itself and it’s easy when you love what you do,’’ Court says.
Court moved to Auckland from Whangarei for her apprenticeship.
She says she would recommend a trade to anyone who is leaving school or considering a career change.
‘‘There are practically no bills by the end of it and you are actually getting paid to learn.’’