Wellington City turned on a fantastic winter’s day for the sixth annual Trade Training Day for carpentry apprentices. Run by the Wellington RMBA, the trip was attended by more than 80 building recruits, a record number to date.
Led by John Hanna, a long-time Association member who is passionate about encouraging apprenticeships in the building trade, the group went on a bus tour of building-related manufacturing plants, namely Metropolitan Glass, First Aluminium Windows and Doors and Carters Pre Nail Plant, as well as the BRANZ research facility.
Carters put on a barbecue lunch at BRANZ and the Wellington City Council hosted a social hour at the end of the day in the council chambers with guest speaker Councillor John “Mystery” Morrison. Also, a number of prizes were kindly donated by Carters, The Toolshed and the RMBF, and given away in a draw that afternoon.
The success of the day was, in no short part, due to the ongoing support of Carters, BCITO, Weltec, First Aluminium Windows and Doors, Metropolitan Glass, BRANZ, the RMBF and the Wellington City Council.
“The council is an integral part of the building industry, and to support an event of this kind puts some substance behind it. This is a fantastic and important trade for our city,” said George Skimming, director of the council’s Building Consents and Licensing Services Department.
There was overwhelming support from all the supporting partners for the day, with Craig McMahon from Carters saying how enthusiastic they are to be a part of this day and encouraging the group to further their knowledge within the industry.
RMBF chief executive Peter Burghout congratulated the apprentices on their choice of career, and encouraged them to consider entering the Apprentice of the Year competition.
Wellington MBA president Graeme Sutton says the association has always supported every initiative to encourage young people to join, stay and progress in the industry.
It has also recently facilitated an arrangement with the local council to host four RMB member apprentices for two days a month, to visit the Building Consents and Licensing Services Department and gain an insight into how Building Consent applications are processed, how the building inspection process works and how Code Compliance Certificates are signed off and issued.
The Wellington Association looks forward to hosting more enthusiastic apprentices in 2008!
What they said:
“I really enjoyed seeing the professionalism and technology of the glass and aluminium factories. Also it was great to see the maturity and enthusiasm of everyone in the group and the industry as well.”
Pippa Jones, Martin Goulden Builders Ltd
“I’m new to New Zealand so it was good to see the manufacturing side of things here. I also enjoyed meeting new people and it’s great to see people my age and women in the industry.”
Matthew Harris, Bembo Trust
