Lower Hutt apprentice Jamie Gaskin impressed the judges enough to take home the top award for Lower North Island Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2017 Apprentice of the Year.
Jamie, who is employed by Black Sheep Construction of Upper Hutt, said winning the award was a memorable moment.
“I was nervous, but excited at the same time. All 10 finalists had no idea what the result was going to be on the day, so finishing in first place at the regional competition was a great achievement for me,” he says.
Jamie says Apprentice of the Year was the perfect chance for him to test his skillset against like-minded apprentices.
“Everyone wants to excel at their trade and see how they compare to others with similar experience. The competition gave me the opportunity to not only test that, but also to increase my knowledge in all areas of building.”
Jamie says the practical challenge was the most difficult aspect of the national competition, but also one of the most rewarding parts.
Pressure creeps in
“As soon as that clock starts, you feel the pressure begin to creep in. The work is physically demanding, and working out the measurements while watching the clock challenges your practical thinking.
“In this industry you need to work well under pressure and to time constraints, so it was a great experience to take with me going forward,” he says.
Jamie acknowledged his employer, Black Sheep Construction, for the valuable skills they helped him develop throughout his apprenticeship.
“The team has given me such a broad range of work throughout this journey, with everything from smaller bathroom renovations to large-scale commercial projects.
“Showing how versatile you can be will do nothing but wonders for your career going forward.”
Jamie advises other apprentices not to hold back when thinking of entering the competition.
“You don’t get results if you don’t put yourself out there,” he adds.
Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be part of the construction industry are encouraged to join the Registered Master Builders Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/registeredmasterbuilders.
The Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition is made possible thanks to principal sponsor CARTERS, the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), and supporting sponsor the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
