Zurina was self-employed before taking the leap to join Thirteen full-time. She started her own cleaning business and moved into general property maintenance before deciding to become an adult learner.
She wanted to gain recognised qualifications and develop her skills while working alongside experienced colleagues, and the apprenticeship with Thirteen was the perfect opportunity to progress.
Zurina is mentored by an experienced trades professional and has worked on a variety of projects across different Thirteen teams. "I've worked in investment as well as in the repairs team. Now, I work in empty homes, doing a mix of plastering and tiling. My job is to get properties ready for customers quickly.
"There's something new to learn every day and, one year on, I'm still loving it. There's so much camaraderie here, everyone is very supportive, and if you're willing to learn, the team will go above and beyond to help you."
Zurina's hard work and positive attitude were recognised when she was selected to compete in SkillBuild, one of the UK's largest skills competitions for the construction industry. She went on to secure second place in a regional qualifying round.
"The job gives you the best of both worlds. I'm becoming skilled in a trade and trusted to work on my own as my confidence grows, but I'm also part of a big, supportive team where mentors and managers are on hand to help every step of the way. I'm genuinely learning something new every day."
Zurina is one of a growing number of female trades professionals at Thirteen and is passionate about sharing the opportunities available for women in trade professions.
"When I was at school it was the boys who were pushed into trades – all of the advertising for jobs like plastering was male-orientated. I think it's important to show that's not always the case.
"There are still fewer women working in the trades, but you don't feel that at Thirteen."
"In fact, our customers are extremely positive about women being in this role."
We're committed to creating opportunities for more women to build successful careers in the trades.