Temuka Apprentice is Grateful for ATT Scholarship

TEMUKA APPRENTICE IS GRATEFUL FOR ATT SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND OUTWARD BOUND COURSE

TAUGHT ME THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK,
HE SAYS

“Outward Bound taught me the value of team-work. I’m going to find those skills very useful in my career,” says Temuka apprentice plumber/drainlayer Daylen Garton. Earlier this year Daylen won one of two ATT/Skills Outward Bound Scholarships that paid the fees and travel to undertake a week-long course at Outward Bound’s Marlborough Sounds base.

Daylen completed Outward Bound’s Compass Course for emerging talent in mid-November. The Compass Course is designed for those people early in their careers to help them focus on developing personal confidence and a strong sense of responsibility. Outward Bound says it will challenge participants to strive for greatness and will help them understand the value of communicating face-to-face with colleagues and customers.

Daylen says there were two highlights for him at Outward Bound. “Firstly, I learned that individuals are stronger in a team. I was asked to be a team leader and I realised that there’s a real skill in getting a team to achieve its goals. It’s not about being bossy, it’s about encouragement – and much more. Secondly, I got to know people a lot better, not to judge and to accept and respect the way everyone is. By doing that, it means we can achieve our goals faster and more efficiently. I’m very grateful to ATT and Skills for the ATT/Skills Outward Bound Scholarship and the opportunity this has given me. It was an amazing experience.”

“I so enjoyed Outward Bound and got so much from it that I’m returning for a week in February as a volunteer on the Horizon course for people with disabilities. Looking ahead, when I’ve finished my apprenticeship, I’d like to return there in some capacity,” adds Daylen.

Daylen is employed by ATT as an apprentice plumber/drainlayer at Hadlee & Brunton in Timaru. ATT’s regional manager for Christchurch and the lower South Island Antony Dale, says he was delighted at what Daylen had achieved in his week at Outward Bound.

“Daylen has a great attitude and is very positive. Before Daylen used to rush into things, and after only a week at Outward Bound we can see him in a work situation where he’s taking the time to think better and to make a decision. He has returned with some excellent skill sets, and that bodes very well for both his professional and personal future.”

ATT’s CEO, Gray Paterson says he’s delighted that Daylen not only enjoyed Outward Bound’s Compass Course but also that he has gained so much from his attendance. “The ATT/Skills Outward Bound Scholarship has been established for apprentices such as Daylen to experience not only the physical and mental challenges of Outward Bound, but also to achieve more self-assurance and self-responsibility.”

ATT recruits, employs and places apprentices into ‘host’ businesses in the plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying and electrical trades. By the end of December, ATT expects to be employing 355 apprentices and by the end of 2017, ATT expects to have 430 apprentices employed all over the country. ATT operates from four locations – Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch; its head office is in Highbrook in South Auckland. Established in 1991, this year ATT celebrates its 25th anniversary. For more information about ATT, click here.

ENDS

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