Te Anau automotive apprentice gains top honours
‘‘I was encouraged to enrol in the automotive pre-trade course at SIT before I signed up as an apprentice, as it teaches you valuable skills/ tricks and info about the motor trade.’’ - Mobil Te Anau automotive apprentice Jordan Harris.
An opportunity to enjoy a brief look into a trade that interested him, sent Jordan Harris on a voyage of self-discovery and into employment in the motor trade.
‘‘I have always been intrigued by hands-on work such as, metal work, and being able to repair or build most things I needed too,’’ he says.
While at College, Jordan was offered the opportunity to further his interest in engineering through the Hokonui Tertiary High School Trades Academy Programme.
‘‘Hokonui Tertiary High School gave me a brief look at the engineering trade and taught me valuable skills that I still use today,’’ says Jordan.
As part of his experience through the Trades Academy and his high school Gateway Programme, Jordan was offered a job at Mobil Te Anau, where he continues to work today.
‘‘I was encouraged to enrol in the automotive pre-trade course at SIT before I signed up as an apprentice, as it teaches you valuable skills/ tricks and info about the motor trade,’’ he says.
The additional study through the Southern Institute of Technology has given Jordan a strong pathway into the trade, giving him the knowledge and skills he needs to excel, not to mention a good outlook on what to expect from the industry in the future.
‘‘While studying at SIT, I enjoyed the challenges it gave and having the opportunity to learn more than just what the course covered by showing interest and asking extras questions to get more detailed knowledge from the tutors,’’ says Jordan.
‘‘Another thing I enjoyed while studying at SIT was the hands on, practical learning environment the course provided.’’
Jordan’s study towards his apprenticeship via distance through SIT is going well and has helped him to further his knowledge and skill base of the trade through his attendance at block courses.
‘‘Doing this has helped me push through my apprenticeship and complete it well before the expected completion date,’’ he says.
In fact, Jordan is doing so well in his chosen industry that he was recently awarded the 2018 Southern Region Motor Trade Association Top Apprentice Award.
Apprentices must be nominated by their employers in order to enter the competition. As part of that, the Motor Trade Association (MTA) obtain an overview of the apprentices progress report from MITO New Zealand and the apprentice answers questions ,based on personality, attitude and the motor trade industry. They must also talk about their future ambitions in the industry says Jordan.
‘‘ To win the award is amazing and proves that hard work pays off,’’ he says.
‘‘This also gives me more confidence as a mechanic and will hopefully draw more customers into our workshop at Mobil Te Anau.’’
Jordan was very humbled to receive the award, as he didn’t think that he would win.
‘‘Words cannot explain how happy and overwhelmed I was. I was just happy to have been considered as a finalist and being given a tour around the Bill Richardson museum.
‘‘I cannot thank the people around me enough for making it possible.’’
Jordan is currently employed at Mobil Te Anau as a mechanic/tow truck driver. Coming into Summer, the garage’s busy season, his day consists of many varying jobs from servicing and repairing or replacing tyres to engine replacements or overhauls, electrical diagnosing and repairing, or working on a wide range of vehicles from lawn mowers to tractors.
Mobil Te Anau is also the AA roadside contractor and AA approved repairer for the area.
‘‘This gives us a lot of work, as the Milford Road is known for breakdowns and is a big part of our business,’’ says Jordan.
‘‘We must retrieve and repair these vehicles.’’ Going forward, Jordan has a lot of plans for his future in the industry. I plan on growing as a mechanic and gaining higher knowledge and skills.
‘‘I am hoping to sit and pass my Warrant of Fitness (WOF) course next year and be a vehicle inspector.‘‘
He is keen to learn more about the business side of the workshop and one day become foreman.
‘‘I would like to take on an apprentice in the future and pass down the skills and knowledge I have learnt,’’ he says.