Apprentices’ skills given recognition
A couple of southern apprentice builders have featured at the top end of the Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition.
Building apprentice Leon Hingston, of Rangiora, was named the winner of the award for the central South Island and the southern area.
He was followed by Nic Menlove, of Botting Builders in Invercargill.
Third was Chelsea Roper, of Queenstown, who works for Queenstown Carpenters.
The competition recognises excellence among carpentry apprentices and raises awareness of career opportunities in the building and construction industry.
The top apprentice from each region will now go on to compete in the national competition. with the national judging panel and an additional sixhour practical skills test.
The judges said Mr Menlove was a true trade professional
— measured and precise in everything he did.
He had been given good opportunities by his employer and was a respectful, resolute young man who was motivated by a good challenge.
He had great handson capabilities, which were topped off by his impressive organisational skills and sector knowledge.
The judges said Ms Roper was a very capable, mature young woman who was well respected by her colleagues.
A motivated individual, she had a clear desire to succeed in the building and construction industry.
She had been lucky enough to work on the reconstruction of a relocated historic church.
That had provided a lot of good learning opportunities and helped her develop many new skills, which would prove invaluable as she progressed in the industry.
In the final year of her carpentry apprenticeship training, she had acquired a great knowledge of the industry.