68 | Thriving in a male-dominated industry Phoebe established Rotorua-based Rose Line Ltd in June 2022. Rose Line Plumbing and Drainage T T Sue Russell CONTRACTING “Starting a business is never a solo process. I’ve been lucky to have so much support and encouragement in these early days. I know I wouldn’t be where I am without it.” For Phoebe Coers, receiving the Jackson Women in Plumbing Award, for outstanding contribution to the plumbing, gas fitting and drainage industry, at this year’s Master Plumbers awards presentation in April, is not so much about her personal achievements as it is recognition that women play an important role in the sector and are increasingly being drawn to the trades as a really worthwhile career. Phoebe established Rotorua-based Rose Line Ltd in June 2022 and though the sole owner of the business she often uses the word ‘we’ rather than ‘I’, acknowledging the support of her parents, partner, multitude of friends who gave advice, and the collection of merchants she has gathered in her business journey to date. “Starting a business is never a solo process. I’ve been lucky to have so much support and encouragement in these early days,” Phoebe says. “I know I wouldn’t be where I am without it. Leaving school and heading straight into her apprenticeship at Foleys in Dunedin was the best thing she ever did Phoebe acknowledges. “I had wonderful employers who took me on and established the supportive working culture I flourished in.” Phoebe’s big on diversity in the work place, something she says Brian Foley encouraged. For someone who acknowledges that school was not her thing, Phoebe is living proof that if you find your passion, hold true to your values and work hard, the world is your oyster. “Back then I would have never thought I would be owning and running my own business and doing well. It just goes to show that school isn’t for everyone and there’s still plenty of opportunities ahead in life to excel in.” Now at the age of 28 Phoebe’s contribution has been recognised by her peers in the industry. She has achieved much in her time, becoming a certifying plumber, drainlayer and gasfitter. She is thriving in the male-dominated industry, enjoying the straight-up nature of her male colleagues. “I feel a real responsibility to push the boundaries of conventional thinking of industries women can get involved and achieve well in, and continuing to learn new ways of working. That’s the message I try to send in everything I do.” When Business North spoke with Phoebe in June, her life was about to take a new turn, with the decision to spend time overseas with her partner and while this signals a pause to her business activity here, she sees it as a wonderful opportunity to get closer to places in the world that lead the plumbing, gas fitting and drainage disciplines in terms of new methods and technologies. New insights from these international experiences will be valuable for Rose Line in the future and benefit the industry further by applying this new knowledge in New Zealand. The Master Plumbers gong is not the only award Phoebe had been nominated for. On 19 July at the Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, her name is one of a group of finalists standing up for the Wahine Toa Tradeswoman Award at the NAWIC Awards. NAWIC stands for National Awards of Women in Construction and Phoebe says she’s delighted to be chosen a finalist. “It’s so good we have awards of this nature and I’m with a list of really amazing finalists.” Her advice to women contemplating a career in plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying is to definitely get into it. “Do your research and find out who the good companies are that are open minded and have your education at heart. The opportunitites are exciting.”
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