Auckland's Top Building Apprentice Announced
16 September 2021
The top three Apprentices from the Auckland region have been announced for the 2021 Registered Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year.
The Apprentice of the Year competition recognises excellence among carpentry apprentices and raises awareness of career opportunities in the building and construction industry. The competition tests our future sector leaders' project management, business, presentation, and practical skills. For the regional competition, each apprentice had to initially submit a building project. They then took part in a two-hour practical challenge where they were tasked with building a shoe rack. The top 10 from each region then progressed to the interview stage with a judging panel and an onsite visit to discuss their project.
Building apprentice Joshua Fraser from Onehunga was named the Auckland 2021 Registered Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year. The 22-year-old was trained through BCITO and is employed by Craft Renovations.
Joshua excelled in almost every area of the competition, starting with his submission, which was very strong and had a high level of professionalism and detail. His interview was also very impressive, and he came across as an outstanding apprentice. Joshua was able to talk to his submission with confidence and in a great level of detail. During the site visit, Joshua's boss left him to show the judges' around the whole build and supported Joshua with a fantastic reference. Another thing that stood out about Joshua was his infectious enthusiasm to become a good tradesman, this also shows in his personality and work.
Second place went to Daniel Andresen from Faulkner Construction, and trained through BCITO
Daniel was a real standout in this competition, with a great site visit and an ability to confidently explain his involvement in a challenging build. He has in-depth industry knowledge, great communication skills, and clear on-site ability. His site visit was top notch with excellent preparation and a clear description of the job elements. Daniel is a very confident builder who will undoubtedly go a long way in this industry.
Third Place went to Matthew Cathcart, employed by Rag Reno's and trained through BCITO
Matthew had a very strong interview which clearly showed his passion for what he does. He worked on a complex villa restoration where he had to overcome many challenges with the existing building, which helped Matthew grow into the strong carpenter he is today. His passion for his job and the company that trained him really came through in his submission, interview, and site visit. Matthew is calm, mature, and confident, these are all great traits that will set him in good stead for the future.
The top apprentice from each region will then go on to compete in the Master Builders National competition. This includes a 45-minute interview with the national judging panel and an additional six-hour practical skills test.
For more information about the competition, visit www.apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz