Construction Apprentice Numbers Reach 5000

Building And Construction Apprentice Numbers Reach 5000

A milestone in New Zealand building industry training has been reached with the signing up of the 5000th apprentice in training at any one time with the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO).

In the attached photo are from left to right: Apprentice builder Charles Lockley, Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel, and BCITO Chair David Gray, standing outside the Kate Sheppard Apartments.

The 5000th apprentice, Charles Lockley, 18, works in Picton, and says he is thrilled to celebrate the milestone with the BCITO. Marking the occasion, Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel presented him with a tool belt and new set of tools, donated by Millenz and PlaceMakers. The Minister also congratulated the BCITO on its achievement, saying that hitting the 5000th trainee mark was truly "earning while learning" in practice.

Charles plans to complete his apprenticeship and then travel for a while before coming home to set up his own business. "I've always wanted to be a builder, I've had this passion all my life and my granddad was a builder," Charles says.

Charles's employer, Peter Failes of 'The Property Improver' says the honour of being the 5000th apprentice couldn't go to a nicer guy. "Charles is excellent. You've got to give a young guy a go when he's prepared to get up at five in the morning and bike and catch a bus so he can start work at seven."

"Getting to 5000 apprentices is a major milestone for the BCITO, and reflects the huge commitment from the wider building and construction industry, our trainees and the BCITO staff," says BCITO Chief Executive Pieter Burghout. "We're looking forward to maintaining the momentum over coming years."

Pieter went on to note that the BCITO would continue to work closely with the Government over the proposed licensing regime outlined in the Building Bill before Parliament.

The BCITO was set up following the changing of the Apprenticeship Act to the Industry Training Act in 1992.

The BCITO is the national body - recognised by the Government and appointed by the industry - to set the standards for qualifications and training for the sectors the ITO covers (carpentry, cement & concrete, floor & wall tiling, interior systems, proprietary plaster cladding systems, solid plastering, and 'Health and Safety'). The BCITO is currently training 5000 trainees in these areas.

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