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As Apprentice of the Year finalist Jess Nielsen answers the phone for her interview with the Weekly, the background is filled with construction noises.
“Hold on, I’ll just get off the roof,” says Jess, 22, who recently won third place at the annual competition, making her the first woman to ever place.
Back down on the ground, the Wānaka-based builder shares she was excitedly surprised by her result and what it means for other women in the industry.