Good prospects for graduates
As the EIT Level Three Building and Construction course ends at the Tumu Timbers yard, prospects look good for the 13 students who have passed.
Already four from this course have won apprenticeships, adding to the two from seven students last year.
The others are being given help by EIT’s Work Broker Claire Hodson and Tararua Community Youth Services to continue with work experience until they find an apprenticeship or employment.
Claire will work over the next year to place students, and some have already found part-time work experience. Tom Spaic has one day a week working in the Tumu Timber Yard and another working with Chris Wood at the Tararua District Council.
Jeff Sharp, manager of Tumu in Dannevirke said working in the yard helps build knowledge of building supplies and gives experience interacting with the public.
Manager of Tararua Community Youth Services Jeanne O’Brien says it is essential to support these young people as they look for jobs by boosting their confidence and showing them what is possible, even if it means going outside the town.
David McDougall of EIT says the course has been very successful. EIT has run nine Level Three Building and Construction courses from Ruatoria to Dannevirke this year and every one is different.More than 100 students are currently in the courses.
All the students praised tutor Campbell Johnson (CJ), saying he has a knack for teaching skills that make it easy. He said the students all deserve to go on in the industry.
The only woman on the course, Huia Mullins, said the course fulfilled her dream to lean carpentry skills, which she couldn’t do at school because she was a girl. She is looking forward to applying her skills modernising her house.
Darryl Thompson did school woodwork but missed out doing the Level Two course. He said the Level Three course was awesome and he managed with help from CJ and his mates. He said the cottage the course built was ‘astonishing’.
The cottage has already been sold and will soon move to Taradale.
EIT has a waiting list of people wanting cottages and the non-consent cabins the courses have been building.
There was a breakfast barbecue on Wednesday morning to reward all involved and to invite builders and other prospective employers to meet the students.
Feedback from those who have taken on apprenticeships is that they are well trained, not only in skills but in work ethic.
Some have gained apprenticeships in allied trades, such as Michael Pocock who works for Dannevirke Glass.
Employers contact EIT to give students work experience.
David McDougall says the students have been trained in work readiness.
There will be no EIT building course next year.
David said he thinks EIT has exhausted the demand temporarily but the institute is running an automotive Level Two foundation pre-apprentice course in Dannevirke for 2018 and there is demand for more.