He is an apprentice three times over
A big dream has come true for a former head student of Forest View High School who has been named the top aluminium joinery apprentice in New Zealand.
Gateway Glass apprentice Brendon Shepard has been with the business for three years and has done three different apprenticeships in that time.
Shepard said he was not expecting to be the top apprentice in New Zealand.
‘‘I’m pretty proud,’’ he said ‘‘ I’m stoked, I wasn’t expecting it.’’
Business co-owner Shawn Evans said Shepard was awarded his position as top apprentice ‘‘because of his work ethic and quality of work.’’
He said Shepard jumped at the opportunity to complete his first apprenticeship in Auto Glazing, and also started a second apprenticeship in Glass Glazing.
With his two apprenticeships almost complete Shepard wanted to start his third apprenticeship, but was told no one had ever don’t three at once so he had to wait until he had completed the ones he had started.
It was then that an assessing mentor suggested to Evans to nominate Shepard for apprentice of the year, as he had excelled in his work.
Evans said Shepard is ‘‘Lucky to be there that bit longer and being that little bit further ahead.’’
‘‘It is cool for us as an employer and a business, to know we have trained good quality people.’’
Along with Shepard, Evans
‘‘I'm stoked, I wasn't expecting it.’’ Brendon Shepard
daughter Shevonne who has been with the business for 18 months was also nominated for an award and came second in New Zealand.
Shevonne was also nominated for aluminum joinery and was the ‘‘quickest who has been through it,’’ said Evans.
‘‘Its about knuckling down and doing it,’’ said Shevonne.
She said she has a good crew helping her and that anyone can do it if they put their minds to it.
She said being the only female apprentice could be ‘‘challenging at times’’.
‘‘But you can only do what you can only do, and the guys understand that.’’
Shevonne said she is proud of herself and where she is today, and said being among the top two apprentices in New Zealand for aluminum joinery was impressive.
She wants to show the younger generation that women can do it, and hopes to inspire them.
‘‘It can be done, you just have to to it.’’