North and east Auckland budding apprentices battled it out over the weekend in a practical that challenged their tool maintenance, time-keeping, and building expertise.
Nine carpentry apprentices from a variety of different companies kicked off the Regional Practical Challenge at Carters East Tamaki store recently.
The challenge is a stepping stone in the Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year, in partnership with Carters, which aims to “recognise excellence among carpentry apprentices and raise awareness of career opportunities in the building and construction industry”.
Regional winners go on to compete in the national competition.
The crowning winner will have a $5000 career advancement grant from Carters, and the use of a new ute for a year.
Half Moon Bay’s Tracy Pearson’s son Stewart was one of the nine apprentices competing in the regional competition at East Tamaki, where they all built a saw stool.
An apprentice at Paladin, Stewart was very prepared for the challenge, Tracy says.
“He charged and re-charged all his batteries, he packed and re-packed his tool box and did his checklist. He was so focused and very organised.”
Stewart, Tracy says, is very passionate about his job. In all his spare moments, he is planning and building something, including a deck and stairs for his parents.
“It’s art for him,” she says.
Bucklands Beach’s Jack Nevines also competed in the practical challenge, representing Howick’s Faulkner Construction.
“Jack’s a confident guy,” Ross Faulkner, managing director of Faulkner Construction, says.
“He gets on with it, does his thing, and does it well. He’s a fast learner.”
The experience builds the confidence of the apprentices, Ross says. “They seem to grow in maturity. It’s a great experience.”
Past competitors, Faulkner apprentices Ben, Dan and Caleb, agreed. “The pressure it puts on you when you were doing it, I think that was a good learning curve,” Dan says.
The regional results will be announced in August and September.
