Message from the AST Trust

The future looks bright

The successes of the 2021 New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Conference and Expo have been well documented with the number of delegates and stand holders. And of course, we were all glad just to be there after missing out in 2020. Another key success was the NZCB Apprentice Challenge Sponsored by ITM Finals, where we had 19 contestants vying for National honours.

NZCB Apprentice Challenge Sponsored by ITM Judges for 2021 (back row from left to right) Derek Heard, General Manager – Trade for Mitre 10 New Zealand; Matt Thompson, Apprentice Development Coach for Cook Brother Construction; and Brian Dillon AST Trust Chairman with Marc Palmer (front), the 2021 winner.

I had the privilege of being part of the judging panel for the event and came away feeling very positive about the future of our industry. I spent the best part of two days with fellow judges Matt Thompson – Apprentice Development Coach for Cook Brothers Construction and Derek Heard – General Manager – Trade for Mitre 10 New Zealand, listening to the aspirations of the finalists, getting some insights into what it is about this dynamic industry that excites them, as well as sharing a few lighter moments. Congratulations to all those who competed in this event; you did yourselves, your bosses, and your industry proud. Special congratulations again to Ryan Whitburn (3rd), Lucile Richardson (2nd), and winner Marc Palmer.

As part of the interview, we sought from the apprentices their views on training, both now and in the future. It was quite topical given the reforms currently underway, and we were very taken with the insights many of them shared. The right level of support was a strong theme, both financial and nonmonetary, as was the need for flexibility in accessing training. Both of these are core goals of the vocational reforms. The activities of the Apprenticeship Scholarship Trust (AST) continue under the Industry Training Association Building (ITAB) banner, albeit with a slowdown in grant applications in recent months. It has been suggested that the apprenticeship subsidies for employers, and free fees for apprentices may have eased the financial pressure on trainees. Many are waiting to see if these will be extended beyond 2022 and continue supporting the growth that is clearly needed. Until next time, Noho ora mai / all the best.