ABOUT
As young, passionate plumbers - Jesse James and Logan Dodds love their trade and the opportunities it has afforded them.
Logan & Jesse have worked alongside some of NZ’s leading construction partners raising awareness of the industry across their large social media platforms.
Some of New Zealand’s most influential young content creators, the boys helped to raise the profile of the trade industry, encouraging their followers to consider an apprenticeship or training programme.
The team are proud to announce that qualified electrician, Pauline Varlet, has joined the Trade Collective team in 2022. Pauline will help captivate a whole new audience in the way of aspiring female tradies.
With their genuine and honest approach, their passion for their trade is clear. The Trade Up Collective was founded as the next logical link in the chain, connecting the next generation with a career in the trades.
Their “work-hard, play-hard” ethos, personal success and polished presentations, effectively inspire and motivate students - encouraging them to reconsider their perceptions around trades.
The boys’ over-arching message is clear:
with a good attitude, and a trade under your belt, the world truly is your oyster.
LOGAN DODDS
Young, astute, and with an unmatched zest for life, Logan Dodds has found himself living the life of his dreams - but not without a few bumps in the road along the way.
After being asked to leave school when he was 16, his father imparted some solid advice on a young Logan: “get yourself a trade”.
Logan says he has never looked back.
Sadly, Logan’s father passed suddenly before he had finished his apprenticeship. The loss of his father had a profound impact on Logan, making him all too aware of the fragility of life.
Wanting to make the most of every day, once Logan was qualified he set of on his big overseas adventure. Armed with a new GoPro video camera, Logan thought it would be fun to make a memory of his trip.
Little did he know it would hit virality - reaching more than 5 million views, get picked up by international media, and earn him a reputation as the young tradie who ‘broke the internet’.
Logan credits his career in plumbing for a solid foundation, great work ethic, and ability to work from anywhere in the world.
Logan is a social media influencer whose profile can be found here @logan_dodds
JESSE JAMES
As a man who lives for the knife edge of life, Jesse is constantly seeking out the next great adventure. This may be due to the fact he started surfing at age 2, and snowboarding at 9, but whatever the cause - it has certainly shaped a life of action.
Growing up on Auckland’s North Shore, thrill-seeking Jesse has always had a passion for extreme sports and adventure.
Jesse left school at 16 to pursue his plumbing apprenticeship. Once qualified, he headed to America to live and work - chasing his dreams, funded by his solid trade.
Jesse has since travelled all over the world - capturing his experiences and sharing them on the net. Within a short space of time, his high quality imagery in mind blowing locations has grown his following and engagement greatly. Jesse is a bonafide social media influencer, and prolific plumber, who can be found on his handle @jessejames1212
PAULINE VARLET
Pauline comes with a bright & bubbly personality, showing up most of the lads onsite with her positive attitude and unparalleled work ethic (throwing some quality banter while she’s at it we may add). She is a qualified electrician in Christchurch, making waves in the construction industry and changing the traditional narrative that a trade “isn’t” a female career option. While project managing her own jobs on commercial sites, we believe the proof is in the pudding that females are a huge asset on any construction team. Growing up in the South Island of NZ, Pauline puts her decision for a career down to her mother & has never looked back. Through social media, Pauline shares her day-to-day life as a “tradie” online, sharing her workflow, tidy “to-do” lists & overcoming challenges. She’s giving her followers a true picture of what it’s like to be a female on-site, leaving them imagining that one day - in the not-so-distant future - to be a tradie themselves. She is a great addition to the 2022 Trade Tour & we couldn't be more proud to have her on board, continuing to future-proof NZ’s construction industry.
Check out Pauline’s Instagram page here : @pauline_voltlet
