A record 116 entries have been received for the Registered Master Builders Carters 2006 Apprentice of the Year competition. The carpentry apprentice competition aims to recognise excellence among carpentry apprentices and raise awareness of careers in the construction industry.
The record number of entries is up 90% on last year’s numbers. Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) chief executive Ruma Karatiana says the significant increase is partly thanks to this year’s expanded competition and refl ects the emphasis the Government is placing on industry training.
“The response to this year’s competition is encouraging and highlights the growing popularity of careers in the construction industry,” Mr Karatiana says. Staged for the first time in Wellington in 2004 and expanded to Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Canterbury in 2005, the Apprentice of the Year competition is being staged in nine regions nationwide this year.
Carters chief executive Stuart Munro says this initiative will help to improve consumer confidence in the sector.
“We’re excited to be involved in an event which recognises talented apprentices and promotes the carpentry industry as a great career option.” RMBF chief executive Pieter Burghout says the competition supports recent industry initiatives to improve building standards in New Zealand.
“The response to this year’s Apprentice of the Year competition indicates apprentices and training organisations are viewing changes in the industry seriously, and highlights the strength of the future workforce,” Mr Burghout says.
Entrants in the competition will be interviewed by a judging panel made up of representatives from the RMBF, BCITO and Carters.
Ten finalists will then be selected and the judging panel will undertake a visit to each finalist’s building site to determine regional winners.
The nine regional winners will be announced at awards evenings around the country between midSeptember and the end of October.
