State Insurance helps young apprentices

State Insurance helps young apprentices get qualified

Thirty young builders and vehicle repairers have been awarded a place on the State Apprenticeship Scheme, a programme set up to encourage more people into the vehicle repair and building industries.

The successful apprentices receive paid, on-the-job training in the vehicle repair or building field. Their fees and course-related costs of a National Certificate-level qualification are also covered.

Head of State Insurance, Martyn Collett, says State is committed to helping increase the number of skilled trades-people in the building and vehicle repair professions.

“By offering these apprenticeships we’re boosting talent and creating strong sustainable industries,” he says. “Qualified and highly skilled trades-people also help us provide a better overall insurance service for our customers.”

State began the vehicle repair programme four years ago and has this year extended it to include carpentry apprenticeships.

The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) will oversee training of the carpentry apprentices. Training for car repairers is run by the New Zealand Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO).

“We are delighted State has expanded the scheme to include the building trade,” said Ruma Karaitiana, BCITO Chief Executive. “This helps to promote careers in our industry and by encouraging businesses to train young apprentices it certainly goes some way to alleviate the skill shortage we are facing.”

The successful 2007 State apprentices are:
Motor vehicle: Jacob Mills (Whangarei), Sam McMahon (Helensville), Calum McKenzie (Henderson), Robert Dennis, Patrick Scott, Tim Julian (Auckland), Andrew Jenkins (Hamilton), Callum McKenzie (Cambridge), Kieran Dempsey, Matthew Havill (Rotorua), Ross Boyd (Gisborne), Ben Walters (Hastings), Riki Blundell (Levin), Robert Collins, Cameron Rosson (Petone), Tnu Dutch (Upper Hutt), Jason Hanson (Nelson), Sam Bain, Sam Henderson (Christchurch), Logan Burnett (Richmond). Carpentry: Hein Pieterse (Kamo), Bayden Cochrane, Brent Scantlebury (Henderson), Frank Anderson (Tauranga), Scott Donaldson (Hamilton), Allan Flutey (Tokoroa), David Kahu (New Plymouth), Nicholas Ramsay (Wanganui), Jarad Armstrong (Nelson), Shane McNoe (Dunedin)

State plans a further intake of vehicle repair and carpentry apprentices in 2008.

About State

State has been providing New Zealanders with an extensive range of personal and business insurance services for more than 100 years. State manages 1.1 million policies on behalf of more than 460,000 New Zealanders. State is a business division of IAG New Zealand Limited, New Zealand’s largest general insurer.

About Industry Training Organisations

Industry training is New Zealand’s leading workplace learning programme. It develops people’s skills and qualifications while they work, and sharpens business competitive edge. Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) advise on training, set standards, provide packages and help trainees register into the correct NZQA-recognised qualifications.

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