Top Carpentry Apprentices Go Head to Head

30 October 2017

Top Carpentry Apprentices Go Head to Head at Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2017 Apprentice of the Year

New Zealand’s top carpentry apprentices are getting ready to battle it out for the title of Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2017 Apprentice of the Year on Friday 3 November.

After winning their respective regional competitions the 10 apprentices will compete for the top prize at the national competition, which takes place this Thursdayand Friday in Auckland.

The finalists include Seddon-based Olivia Ward who took out the Upper South Island Apprentice of the Year to become the first female apprentice since 2013 to compete in the national final.

To win the national competition, the industry’s future leaders must impress the judging panel over a two-day event. This includes undergoing a 45-minute interview and a six-hour practical challenge. The practical challenge takes place at The ASB Showgrounds in Auckland on Friday 3 November and is open to the public from 8am till 1pm.

This year the competition is taking place alongside the Auckland Build Expo, which brings together industry professionals and leaders from across the construction sector.

Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly says Apprentice of the Year not only promotes the fantastic career opportunities in the industry for apprentices, but also encourages more employers to take them on.

“The rate of carpentry apprentices in training is increasing at a much greater rate than the number of employers taking them on. Between June 2016 and June 2017, the number of apprentices increased by 1007, yet the number of employers training them only increased by 421*,” he says.

“With the growth in apprentice numbers comes the need for more employers to provide them with the opportunities they need to succeed and make their mark on the industry.

“Apprentice of the Year showcases the skills and abilities of our apprentices who will go on to become the industry’s future leaders. It also celebrates the employers who invest in them to future-proof their businesses and the construction pipeline,” says David.

The winner of the Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2017 Apprentice of the Year will be announced at an awards dinner after the practical challenge has been completed on Fridayevening.

The national winner will receive prizes including the use of a Ford Ranger Ute for a year, a $5000 grant courtesy of CARTERS and a range of quality tools as well as an iPad, courtesy of MBIE. All ten finalists will also attend a specially designed Outward Bound course and the Registered Master Builders House of the Year National Gala on 25 November.

“We wish all the finalists good luck as they embark on the beginning of a fantastic career in the industry as Master Builders,” adds David.

Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be a part of the construction industry are encouraged to join the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/registeredmasterbuilders

For more information, visit www.apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz

The Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition is made possible thanks to principal sponsor CARTERS, the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), and supporting sponsors the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and APL through their Altherm, First and Vantage brands.

*Statistics from the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO)

ENDS

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