Ben Bringans of Banks Building Services Ltd was ecstatic when he was awarded first place at the Southern Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2016 Apprentice of the Year competition.
The 23-year-old from Oamaru says winning the regional Apprentice of the Year was a great feeling, and recognition of his hard work paying off.
“It was a really awesome moment. Winning the regional competition and then going on to compete at the national event was a real privilege and a great experience overall,” he says.
He entered the competition to put the skills he had learnt in his apprenticeship to the test, and to challenge himself against other apprentices in the industry.
“I wanted to see how my skills compared with other apprentices in the industry. It was a great experience to get to meet like-minded apprentices and make strong connections in the industry,” he says.
Ben says while he found the national competition challenging, the experience was incredibly rewarding.
“The practical challenge was definitely a challenge, with the amount of work required to plan and build the playhouse within such a restricted time frame. It really put everything I had learnt in my apprenticeship to the test,” he says.
Ben explains that his apprenticeship with Banks Building Services Ltd contributed greatly to his regional win.
“My apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to undertake such a wide variety of work and gain really valuable industry experience, which definitely helped me throughout the competition,” he says.
“I have always enjoyed creating things with my hands, so an apprenticeship was the perfect fit for me. I am absolutely loving the work so far.”
Ben’s advice to this year’s apprentices participating in the competition is to “give it your all and make the most of the experience — you have nothing to lose”.
This year’s regional events are taking place throughout August and September. The winning apprentice from each region will receive $2000 to spend at CARTERS, a place at an Outward Bound course, and a range of products and tools.
All entrants receive an apprenticeship membership to the Registered Master Builders Association.
The regional winners will then go on to compete at the Apprentice of the Year national competition in Auckland in November, vying for the national title of Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2017 Apprentice of the Year.
Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be part of the construction industry are also encouraged to join the 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 sponsors the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and APL through their Altherm, First and Vantage brands.
