I entered the Master Builders Apprentice of the Year 2024 competition because I’m ridiculously over competitive and I like doing competitions. Most people aren’t like this. That said, I was on the tools with my mate Damo (also recently qualified) shortly after winning the regional and couldn’t help but think:
‘Hmmm, Damo can cut in a much straighter line than me. And those scribers he has just done are damn-near perfect. Why didn’t he enter the competition, he would have crushed it. Kind of lucky for me he didn’t…’
The reality is there are many incredible apprentices who just don’t consider the fact that they could go far in this competition.
This article therefore is not for the apprentices who naturally gravitate towards being competitive, it’s for the hundreds of straight-forward, hard-working young tradespeople who tend towards trusting the process rather than rocking the boat.
So, if that’s you, let’s do a cost-benefit analysis on why you should enter:
Cost: It takes up your time, which is valuable.
Does it though? The first stage involves a submission, and a two-hour build at a Carters location. There’s a bit of admin to get signed up which takes all of ten minutes.
Granted, a submission can seem off-putting. You’ve got 9 hours on the tools each day, plus commuting, and straightening your kit out for the next day – the last thing many people want to do is start writing at 7pm. Thing is, as an apprentice, you’ve got to do this anyway for BCITO or Weltec. I got half my apprenticeship signed off on my submission writing alone. It’s killing two birds with one stone. Your assessor will respect the fact you’re putting yourself out there and can easily accept your written work in a slightly different format.
For arguments sake, let’s say that writing this submission knocks off a good bit of your bookwork, and you qualify 3 months earlier than you otherwise would have. Let’s say you get a $4 pay rise when you qualify. I calculate this as about 40 hours, x thirteen weeks, x $4. That equals two grand – let’s say $1600 after tax. So, if your submission takes you 16 hours, which would be on the very long side, you’re effectively paying yourself $100 an hour for your trouble.
Now some people don’t write that well. Some brilliant builders don’t write that well. It doesn’t really matter. The submission is read by industry experts – they want to know you understand building, you don’t have to be Shakespeare. The submission’s competitive weighting isn’t as high as the practical build. A great 2-hour practical challenge, with a respectable submission will score higher than an average build and a more in-depth submission. Finally, if the writing is really posing a challenge, get your employer to help you. Use their laptop. They’ve probably been paid some good money by the Government to take you on, it’s their job to help you in the areas you may not be strongest in.
The practical challenge takes a day out of your weekend, and a few hours the night before in organising your tools – and yes, for the two hours once that clock starts you have to mahi really bloody hard.
If you place in the top ten in your region based on your submission and practical, you will then move to the next stage which is an interview and a site visit. Bear in mind – all applicants have a good chance of this. I was in the Lower North Island catchment, including the nation’s capital, and we had 14 guys. In the smaller regions, you may automatically progress to this stage.
The site visit requires very little prep. The judges come to your site, and you show them what you do. How you prep for an interview is up to you. The judges tell you in advance what some of the questions will be on. In my case they recommended we read the LBP Handbook. I probably spent an afternoon or two on it. Here’s the thing, you’re going to have to read this handbook anyway when you go for your LBP. It’s not lost time. Directly after, call your assessor and say you’re ready to be assessed on Consents and Licensing. Three birds, one stone.
Benefits:
Carters loves giving you tools. And clothes. And food. Honestly, I’ve lost track at this stage. It’s low-key ridiculous. Just for doing the competition you’ll get several hundred dollars-worth of kit. The cost of living is horrendous, as we all know. Once you’ve paid your taxes, rent, petrol and food for the week, most of us are lucky to have $100 left over. So just in entering, you’ve probably profited three or four working weeks of disposable income.
If you place in the region, more kit comes your way. If you win, you get two-grand in Carters credit. That’s a droppy and half a ripsaw. I went to Auckland for the final and when I walked into the hotel room there were brand new Steel Blue boots, a Taurus Belt and a Carters Swannie waiting on the table. That’s another grand right there. On the one hand, you feel spoilt, but all this stuff is donated by sponsors who have a genuine respect for a competition that Master Builders have carefully grown over three decades.
There are huge benefits for your self-confidence for entering. Master Builders shows you respect throughout. They read your submission with care and discuss it with you in the interview. They show genuine interest in you as a builder. Entering this competition for me was the turning point where I stopped thinking ‘I’m the apprentice, someone else will figure it out’ and instead, ‘I’ve got this handled’. The practical challenge is tough within the time frame. You must remain clear headed enough to figure out deliberately tricky plans, and then haul-arse to get something built fast. Two hours isn’t long. There are qualified builders who spend two hours in the Portaloo. The qualified guys don’t like to admit it, but the challenge would be tough for them as well, and you’ll get respect for it. In the long run this is worth more than all the tools you stand to win.
Finally, having credentials matter in this industry. Construction is built on trust. Anyone can talk the talk, but walking the walk is harder. Your employer will have spent years building a reputation and trust with clients. Doing the competition is not a substitute for this, but it is a great shortcut for getting a foot in the door. What if someone down the road is looking to get a fence put in? There are a few guys saying they’ll do it - but you can say you came 2nd in the region in a Master Builders competition. The homeowner can trust that - it’s a real thing. You get the job. What if your current employer closes-up shop and you’re suddenly on the job hunt? You did the Apprentice of the Year competition, which is more than the other guy. You get the job.
Conclusion: If you’re a half-decent second, third-or fourth-year apprentice, anywhere in the country, sign up for the 2025 Apprentice of the Year Competition. You stand to gain far, far more than you are asked to put in. It stacks up as a great investment. You’re not being a show-pony, your just being smart. Chip away at the submission in early 2025, which will double up as your theory work anyway. Give the regional practical your best shot. Best case scenario? You win a brand-new Ford Wild Trak, tens of thousands of dollars in prizes and super charge your building career.
Worst Case Scenario? You get the respect of your co-workers and training assessor, take a big step towards the qualification, build a tonne of confidence and up-grade the tool kit.