A Tauranga electrical apprentice has scored herself $1000 worth of tools after winning an award from Hamilton-based retailer Smiths, in association with ideal Electrical and the Skills Organisation.

Jessica Liggett-Bowring received the Female Leadership Award at a ceremony on Friday.

The 19-year-old has been training to be an electrician since the beginning of last year, when she moved to Tauranga.

She says the $1000 store credit to Ideal Electrical will come in handy, although she's not sure how to spend it yet.

'I only just bought some new drills a month ago, so I'll have to wait and see what I need!”

Jessica, who grew up in Taumarunui and attended New Plymouth Girls' High School, first completed her Level 3 qualification at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in 2017.

She's now started an apprenticeship with Energised Electrical and is continuing her studies on a Tuesday evening.

As the only girl in her classes, she says a couple of the guys were ‘stand off-ish' towards her, but most of her peers were supportive. She thinks more young women should look into doing a trade.

'I reckon they would like it. But girls don't really get exposed to trades as an option. I know I'd never really thought about it until my dad suggested it.”