Alisa Atkins
Building Opportunity Through Integrity
Ailsa never planned to work in construction. Raised in the UK by two engineers who worked for Rolls-Royce, she was determined to follow a different path. After studying psychology, she found herself in recruitment — and when she moved to New Zealand, she talked her way into recruiting tradespeople, despite knowing little about the roles.
Her dad became her 3 a.m. helpline, explaining what a fitter or rigger actually did.
Somewhere along the way, construction got under her skin. She loved the sites, the machinery, the people, and the tangible nature of the work. In 2007, alongside her business partner Beccy, she co-founded Key Skills Recruitment with two laptops, a borrowed office due for demolition, and plenty of determination. Nearly two decades later, the business is still thriving.
There have been defining moments — including the collapse of Mainzeal in 2011, when 35 workers’ tools were locked inside a site. At 7 a.m., Ailsa was there, determined to retrieve them so her people could get back to work. It reinforced the values at the heart of the business: show up, look after your people, and find a way through.
In a traditionally male-dominated sector, Ailsa has led with relationship-building, fairness, and integrity — proving recruitment can be values-driven and genuinely life-changing. Her legacy? Creating opportunities for those who might otherwise be overlooked, and showing that kindness, resilience, and stubborn determination can build both businesses and careers.
