After a rocky road into the infrastructure industry, persistence and dedication have taken Fulton Hogan Leading Hand Chloe Edwards to the top of her game, with her recent Civil Trades certification marking a significant milestone in an award-winning career journey.
"I was so driven to be trade certified because I've found my life passion working with water infrastructure," she says.
Chloe’s path to success in the civil construction industry wasn't without its challenges.
At 17, she dropped out of high school without a clear direction. Inspired by her plumber father, she completed pre-trade plumbing at Hawke's Bay's Eastern Institute of Technology but faced repeated rejections when seeking apprenticeships.
"I knocked on the doors of all the plumbing businesses in the Bay several times a year, begging for an apprenticeship only to be told that the trade was not for girls."
A chance connection through an employment agency led her to Fulton Hogan Hawke's Bay, where she discovered pipeline construction – “plumbing times a thousand” – and she’s never looked back.
“Fulton Hogan does pipeline construction, so we do all the capital works projects for councils, and in 2019, I became a pipeline construction apprentice. I did that for a couple of years then got promoted into management and became the new connections coordinator looking after a third of the Hawkes Bay District Council three waters maintenance contract.”
Chloe’s current role as a leading hand officially involves assisting forepeople with health and safety, construction, productivity and quality assurance. However, she has already led numerous projects independently and managed the Fulton Hogan teams and subcontractors involved.
Based at the Whakatu depot in Hawke’s Bay, she appreciates the opportunity to work around the region on different projects for the three councils involved in the area.
"I spent six to eight months out of town last year butt welding a wastewater main along the Taupō waterfront and then doing a mains renewal for Tuai, which is an hour north of Wairoa. I'm currently working on water mains renewals for Hastings District Council.”
Chloe says learning in May that she had gained her Pipeline Construction and Maintenance trade certification with an endorsement in Drinking Water was big news, capping off her previous qualifications and experience.
“It's my first time being trade certified and I'm very excited to have achieved this after almost six years of hard work, study and getting my level three and four qualifications.
"Every day brings new challenges, constant learning, and opportunities to upskill. The industry and technology is always evolving, so I've been determined to work hard and climb to the top of my field.”
No one can argue that Chloe hasn’t been dedicated to her mission, racking up industry recognition including Water New Zealand’s National Water Trainee of the Year and the Civil Contractors New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay East Coast Hunter Donghi Memorial Trainee Award in 2022.
Chloe says Civil Trades certification represents more than personal achievement – it's also about opening doors for others.
“Certification was the next step in my career progression and hopefully now I can help pioneer this career path and showcase how the civil industry can be an exciting environment to thrive in, not just for young women, but for everyone in my generation with hands-on skills and technical minds.”
With Civil Trades certification under her belt and industry recognition proving the naysayers wrong, Chloe’s career path to the top of her field is clear.
“I’m living the dream and I love what I’m doing. I love this job. Dad is absolutely stoked. He loves that I am in a trade being successful after watching me battle trying to get a plumbing apprenticeship.”
About Civil Trades certification
Civil Trades certification provides professional recognition of a civil tradesperson’s competence and helps them take the next step in their career. It provides evidence of a person’s expertise and demonstrates to managers – and the world – that they have a high degree of practical experience.
Developed by industry, Civil Trades certification is open to anybody who has completed a Civil Infrastructure Level 4 qualification and has 8,000 hours (around four years) of practical experience.
Certification and job-specific endorsement can be gained in any of the following areas:
- Road Construction and Maintenance
- Pipeline Construction and Maintenance
- Road Surfacing
- Piling
More information about the application process can be found on our ‘Civil Trades Certification Applications’ page
Chloe Edwards with the CCNZ Hawke’s Bay East Coast Hunter Donghi Memorial Trainee Trophy she won in 2022.