Top young apprentices compete for national title

Top young apprentices compete for national title

Young carpentry apprentices all over the country are sharpening their tools and honing their skills as they prepare to contest the inaugural national title in the Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition, in association with Carters.

Key players in New Zealand’s building and construction industry have joined forces to find the country’s top carpentry apprentice, as part of an ongoing commitment to recognise excellence among apprentices, and raise awareness of careers in the industry.

Backed by principal sponsor Carters and supporting sponsors the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), Registered Master Builders Federation (RMBF) and the Department of Building and Housing, this year’s competition is being staged in 10 regions around New Zealand, before the winner of each region heads to Wellington to compete for the national title in November.

A record 134 entries have been received in the 2007 competition, which has experienced huge growth since starting as a Wellington-based contest in 2004, and expanding to nine regional competitions nationwide in the following two years.

BCITO chief executive Ruma Karaitiana says the increase in interest in the 2007 Apprentice of the Year is due, in part, to the introduction of a national title, as well as growing recognition and support for the competition from the public and also the building industry. It also reflects the emphasis the Government is placing on industry training.

“With more than 8500 carpentry apprentices registered at training organisations in New Zealand, the Apprentice of the Year Awards are an important and valued initiative, which help ensure the development of a sustainable workforce in our country.

“The awards serve to inspire the next generation of skilled carpenters, by recognising and encouraging excellence as well as the hard work and determination required to complete an apprenticeship,” Mr Karaitiana says.

In the coming weeks, entrants in the competition will be interviewed by a judging panel, made up of representatives from Registered Master Builders, the BCITO and Carters. Up to 10 finalists will then be selected from each region and the judging panel will undertake a site visit to each finalist’s building site to determine regional winners.

The 10 regional winners will be announced at awards evenings around the country between mid-September and the end of October before the regional winners meet in Wellington to compete for the National Apprentice of the Year title on November 6 and 7.

ENDS
For further information contact:
Rebecca Kennedy
(04) 494 5177
027 407 0533
rkennedy@nbpr.co.nz

Notes to editor:
The Apprentice of the Year competition is a joint initiative by Carters, the Registered Master Builders Federation, the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) and the Department of Building and Housing (DBH). It aims to recognise excellence among carpentry apprentices and raise awareness of the career opportunities in the building and construction industry.

The Apprentice of the Year competition is being run in 10 regions this year: Northern, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Central North Island, Wellington, Upper South Island, Central South Island and Southern.

Regional winners will receive a prize package which includes:

• Participation in a specialist Outward Bound Leadership Programme tailored for Apprentice of the Year winners (value up to $2500), valid for two years from the end of the competition*

• A scholarship towards completion of study or postgraduate study in any construction or building course (value up to $2000), valid for two years from the end of the competition

• Regional placegetters receive a prize pack which includes:

• Prize packs from Carters including tools and products from DeWalt, Patience & Nicholson, and Stanley Tools, branded merchandise from the BCITO and material from the Department of Building and Housing

All entrants in the Apprentice of the Year competition also receive an Apprenticeship membership to the Registered Master Builders Federation for one year.

Winners of each regional competition will also automatically become a finalist in the national competition, and will be flown to Wellington to be judged by an independent panel.

The winner of the National Apprentice of the Year title will be announced at an awards evening in Wellington in November. Organisers will meet travel and accommodation costs for the finalist, his or her employer and two family members.

The National Apprentice of the Year winner will receive a trip for two to an Australasian tradeshow, and associated travel package to the value of $3,500.

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