Dunedin building apprentice takes out top local award
Saturday 20 October 2007, 10:20AM
By nbpr.co.nz
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Dunedin carpentry apprentice Blair Stuart was named the Registered Master Builders Carters 2007 Apprentice of the Year for the Southern region at an awards ceremony in Dunedin last night.
Blair, 22, will now compete against top apprentices from around the country at the national Apprentice of the Year finals in Wellington in November.
Blair is completing his carpentry apprenticeship through the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) and is employed by Naylor Love Ltd.
Carters representative on the judging panel Maurice Blair said entries in the Southern region were of a very high standard, and choosing a winner was a difficult task.
“All entrants demonstrated fine skills and knowledge of the trade, but Blair displayed top quality workmanship, enthusiasm, and a real ambition to succeed in the industry,” Mr Blair said.
“Blair is an outstanding role model for young carpentry apprentices. His diligence, admirable work ethic and impressive technical and skills make him a well-deserving recipient of this award.”
Pieter Burghout, chief executive of the Registered Master Builders Federation, is delighted with the continued success of the Apprentice of the Year competition, now in its fourth year.
“This competition is a great way to promote the excellent standard of building in New Zealand and celebrate the achievements of our country’s future industry leaders.”
Second place in the competition went to Tim Beckett, 20, of Queenstown, and Tom Nichol, 21, of Dunedin, was third.
The event was well attended, with guests including Deputy Leader of the National Party and Member of Parliament for Clutha-Southland Hon Bill English, Otago Registered Master Builders Association president Ewan Oats, Carters Dunedin branch manager Maurice Blair, BCITO marketing and communications manager Rachel Winter, and Department of Building and Housing building standards group manager Mike Stannard. Celebrity builder John “Cocksy” Cocks was MC for the night.
Blair received an Outward Bound leadership course worth $2500 and a study grant of $2000 for winning the competition.
Note
The Apprentice of the Year competition is a joint initiative by Carters, the Registered Master Builders Federation, the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation and the Department of Building and Housing. It aims to recognise excellence among carpentry apprentices and raise awareness of the career opportunities in the building and construction industry.
The Apprentice of the Year competition is being run in 10 regions this year: Northern, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Central North Island, Wellington, Upper South Island, Central South Island and Southern.
It is the second time that the Apprentice of the Year competition has been run in the Southern region, which includes Oamaru, Dunedin, Central Otago and Invercargill.
The winner of the National Apprentice of the Year title will be announced at an awards evening in Wellington in November.
The National Apprentice of the Year winner will receive a trip for two to an Australasian trade show, and associated travel package to the value of $3500.