My Account
Samantha Williams-Robson must sometimes work in cramped conditions but has managed to overcome them.
Things did not look too promising when Samantha Williams-Robson, 18, attended the inaugural Mahurangi Employment Expo in the Warkworth Town Hall last October, but as things turned out, she ended up securing an apprenticeship in a job she loves.
Covid disruptions meant only a few trades and professions were represented at the rescheduled expo, and there was nothing related to the electrical trade, which Samantha had hoped to learn more about.
Fortunately, organiser Murray Chapman spotted Samantha and asked her what she was looking for.
Once he found out, Murray introduced her to Warkworth electrician Luke Fry, who was there not to talk about his trade but to help his son out who was seeking a joinery apprenticeship.
Luke and Samantha got chatting and the upshot was that Luke invited Samantha to come out for a few days’ work experience, which was readily accepted.
Luke made the same offer to two other young students who also accepted, but Samantha impressed Luke the most.
“She asked the right kind of questions – the sort of questions that would help her learn,” he says.
Luke did wonder if Samantha might balk at crawling under floorboards or working in the cramped space above a ceiling, but when Samantha volunteered to get into an attic to see work in progress, his concerns quickly dissipated.
Later, when Samantha wanted to add her work experience to her CV, Luke took the plunge and offered her an apprenticeship, which she started in February this year.
She says so far things have been going well.
“There is something new to learn every day – I’m expanding my horizons and capabilities in all areas,” she says.
Samantha says she had not taken a special interest in physics or electrics at school. Her major science subject was biology. However, she was inspired by her Mum, who is intensely practical at home – capable of doing everything from building a horse shelter to a spot of plumbing.
Although, Samantha could have easily gone on to university if she wanted, nothing there really appealed.
“I thought if there is nothing there that really grabs my attention, there’s no point in going just for the sake of it. I’d rather do something useful and start earning from day one,” she says.
She says she has to work in tight, uncomfortable spaces at times surrounded by bugs but has pushed herself to overcome these situations and been able to “conquer them”.
Luke says women electricians are becoming more common. He knows of about six in the Rodney area.
One sparkie in Snells Beach has two women apprentices and a big firm in Mangawhai comprises eight electricians – all of them women.
