Celebrations rang out around the Pullman Hotel as the winner of the 20th Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2023 Apprentice of the Year competition was announced. Jack Nevines was presented with the prestigious title at the National Awards Gala in Auckland on November 10.
Employed by Faulkner Construction, Jack completed his training through BCITO, a business division of Te Pūkenga and earlier took out the Auckland title in the regional round of the CARTERS-sponsored competition.
Judges said Jack’s entry ‘neared perfection’. They were most impressed by his ‘natural ability to lead, and the faultless management of his project’, which he diligently discussed during his interview.
“Jack’s extensive knowledge of the building code, methodology, and building products stood out and showed his great interest and understanding of the industry. In the final stages of the competition, his skills all came together to demonstrate his top class craftsmanship,” the judging panel noted.
Delivering his winner’s speech, Jack said he was extremely proud to receive the honour, which comes with a CARTERS sponsored ute for a year, and a $5,000 tool grant, as well as the prestigious title. There was enormous pride, with hugs all round, from Jack’s parents and his employer, who attended the event alongside him.
Runner up this year, was Isaac Posthuma, representing the Northern region. His entry received much merit from the judges, who commented the top three place winners were separated by the slimmest of margins.
Representing Waikato, Jess Nielsen made history by being the first woman to place in the national competition since its establishment in 2003. The talented apprentice was a well-deserving third place winner and in addition to studying towards a Bachelor of Construction, she is also a volunteer firefighter and ski instructor.
“Both of these apprentices were very strong contenders. Isaac is an excellent craftsman, and at the young age of 20, he has a bright and fulfilling career in construction ahead of him.
“Jess is the first ever female apprentice to place in the national competition, she is a highly impressive young person with excellent building knowledge, Jess also showcased a great level of skill in the national practical competition where she scored very highly,” said competition judges.
Eight carpentry apprentices from across Aotearoa New Zealand made their way to Auckland to partake in the final stages of the competition. Before qualifying for the national competition, each of the top eight competed against other apprentices in their region. This involved a written project submission, a two-hour regional practical challenge, an interview, and a site visit.
The national competition took place across a two-day event, starting at CONZTRUCT Auckland North, the apprentices were challenged with a six-hour practical skills test and a 45-minute interview with the national judging panel.
For the practical component, the regional winners each crafted a workbench, which was then donated to early learning centres through Evolve Education Group. The project was a highly technical exercise, leaving no room for error, said the judges.
Registered Master Builders National President, Johnny Calley says the perception towards building and construction as a career has positively changed, with BCITO Te Pūkenga reporting that over 6% of the sector is now women. This statistic was reflected in this year’s competition, with several females competing in the regional leg of the competition. Jessica Nielsen won the regional competition in Waikato and went on to place third at national level.
“Not only are we seeing an increase of more female building apprentices, but many people now are entering the trade as a second or third career choice,” says Johnny. “A better understanding of the sector has led to the transition away from a traditional 'blue-collar' workforce to a widely respected industry that is attractive to a diverse range of people.”
He reflects on how the sector has evolved in the last two decades, highlighting the impact that changes in regulations and the roles of specialised sub-contractors have had on how we now build.
“When I started my career builders would do everything from laying concrete to installing insulation and roofing iron,” he says. “In today’s environment, those types of processes are carried out by specialised sub-contractors which has created efficiencies.
“Another transformation is how the industry is regulated. When I started anyone could pick up a hammer and call themselves a builder, but with the introduction of the Licensed Building Practitioners scheme you now need to meet the certification standards to sign off restricted building works. This has lifted the quality of our builds and the workforce.”
Over the last two decades, the competition has celebrated and connected apprentices as well as their employers.
“Recognising excellence is extremely important. From my experience, those apprentices that enter mentoring programmes and competitions like Registered Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year, go on to become industry leaders. It is a natural progression of testing their ability whilst learning key skill sets that set them apart.
“I want to congratulate all of those who have had the courage to enter the competition in the last 20 years, and of course, this year’s winners,” adds Johnny.
November’s gala awards signalled the end of the extensive competition and saw finalists, employers, family, and friends come together to celebrate success and hard work throughout the competition.
Committed to standing behind all apprentices as they start their careers, CARTERS Chief Executive, Mike Guy is impressed with the talent the competition brings together year-on-year.
“CARTERS are proud to partner with the Apprentice of the Year competition. It’s great to be able to watch these talented apprentices giving their all in the competition and growing from the experience.
“We’re committed to supporting apprentices from across the country as they build their careers in the construction industry. Being involved in the competition is a great way to celebrate emerging talent and our future industry leaders,” said Mike.
Congratulations Jack Nevines – Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2023 Apprentice of the Year!
