Morrinsville’s Ryan Tesselaar was ecstatic when he was awarded third place at the Registered Master Builders Carters 2016 Apprentice of the Year competition.
The 21-year-old, employed by Foster Construction, says he was pleased with the result, given the calibre of the apprentices he was competing against.
“Apprentice of the Year was an awesome experience. It was great to see how my skills compared to other apprentices in the industry, and it was an amazing feeling to have my employer and family there to support me as well,” he says.
Ryan said a highlight of the competition was getting to meet like-minded apprentices. However, the time pressure of the practical challenge proved the most difficult part of the experience.
“Building the playhouse in such a short amount of time was definitely a challenge, but it was reassuring to know that all 10 contestants were in the same situation. While it was nerve-wracking at first, we all got along incredibly well, which made the experience even more rewarding,” he says.
The judges were impressed with Ryan’s consistently high results across all aspects of the competition.
“Ryan gave a fantastic interview and has proved he is more than capable on site. He is currently running a massive project,” they said.
“He has a strong work ethic, and is always seeking to do his best.”
Ryan explains that the promising future of the construction industry and the many opportunities for tradies inspired him to become an apprentice. He says his apprenticeship with Foster Construction contributed greatly to his third place win.
“Placing in the top three of Apprentice of the Year not only strengthens my reputation in the industry, but is also great recognition for Foster Construction. It means I get to say thanks for the three years they have trained and mentored me,” he says.
Ryan encourages future apprentices thinking of entering the competition to “just go for it — you have nothing to lose and everything to gain”.
Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be part of the construction industry are also encouraged to join the Facebook page: 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 sponsors the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and APL through their Altherm, First and Vantage brands.
