10 BUSINESS AND TRAINING
Finding confidence through craft: Nompilo Sibiya ' s plumbing journey
Contributed By
BluLever Education, edited by Megan O’ Connor
Nompilo Sibiya, part of the Pathfinders cohort, is proving that determination, reliability and quality workmanship are changing perceptions of women in the plumbing industry.
All images supp lied by BluLever Education work. " One of the first challenges I faced was that women on site aren ' t trusted to actually do the job. We are treated softly, and I felt like I needed to speak up and say they need to give women a chance to show that we can do what is called a man ' s job."
Rather than allowing those assumptions to define her, she focused on demonstrating what she was capable of. " I handled it by showing that I can work with my hands, and they were amazed."
One experience during her Employer-Based Learning became a defining moment in her journey. " During my EBL, I was left on site with one guy who couldn ' t trust me with anything regarding the work."
Currently completing her apprenticeship with The Facilities Company, she has learned that earning respect on site is less about proving people wrong and more about consistently delivering excellent work.
Her decision to pursue plumbing was driven by a vision for her future. " What inspired me was the end goal of my apprenticeship, seeing myself having a profession. I also chose plumbing because I ' m very interested in practical work, problem solving and sustainable technology."
Like many women entering the trades, she initially found stepping into a male-dominated environment intimidating. " When I entered a male-dominated industry, I firstly felt intimidated, but then I decided to focus and do what was required of me regardless of my gender."
That mindset has shaped how she approaches every opportunity. " I ' ve come to realise that respect is earned through quality of work and reliability."
Early in her apprenticeship, Sibiya experienced the common stereotype that women were not trusted to do physically demanding
With no one else available, they had no choice but to work together. " He had no choice but to work with me, only to find that the two of us could lift a 150l geyser upstairs and install it successfully."
That experience helped shift perceptions, not through words, but through teamwork and capability. It reinforced her belief that women deserve the same opportunities to prove themselves as anyone else on site.
For Sibiya, one of the greatest rewards of the trade is seeing the direct impact of her work on people ' s lives. " The most rewarding part is seeing the direct impact of my work."
She has also noticed that her presence brings something unique to the workplace. " As a woman, I ' ve seen that I bring positive energy into the workplace. Clients, especially elderly women, feel more comfortable communicating with me on site and asking questions. I create a space where they feel free to speak to me about the work."
While she has experienced personal growth throughout her apprenticeship, she believes there is still progress to be made across the industry. " I ' ve not seen any shifts in attitudes." Despite
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