The Waikato Registered Master Builders Association has launched an exciting new initiative to encourage the Master Builders of tomorrow.
In a first for the Association, the Waikato branch has awarded its inaugural carpentry scholarship to Hamilton Boys High School pupil Ben Lachlan.
The new scholarship scheme works in conjunction with the Tertiary Education Commission’s Gateway Programme, to make a smooth transition from school to employment for up and coming young builders showing promise and potential.
The scholarship covers the cost of the student’s books and off-job theory tuition at Wintech for three years of part-time study, to become a qualified carpenter.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must study at a high school in the Waikato area which is involved in the Gateway Programme. In addition, the student must have worked for a Registered Master Builder on their assigned practical days, and have been offered an apprenticeship.
Graham Boswell is a key member of the Waikato RMBA’s executive committee, and played a large part in seeing the idea come to fruition.
“This scheme is the Association’s way of making the shift from school to work as simple as possible,” Mr Boswell says. “The way we see it, if a young person has promise and wants to make their way into the building industry, why make it hard for them?”
Mr Boswell and the other members of the Association plan to make the scholarship available on an annual basis, and are excited about the prospect of an ongoing scheme where the effects can be seen further down the track.
As the first recipient of the initiative, Ben set a fine precedent for the type of person Waikato Registered Master Builders will be looking for when awarding scholarships in future.
“He’s a very focused young man who knows what he wants and what he wants to be,” Mr Boswell says. “We’ve got some pretty hard-nosed chippies on board here who aren’t easily impressed, but the response from the members who have worked with him has been overwhelmingly positive. For a guy just out of school, he’s awesome.”
Ben’s apprenticeship is with Steve Ross, director of Hamilton-based building contractors Stewart Hanna Ltd. After meeting Ben through the Gateway Programme, he has nothing but praise for him and the Master Builders scholarship scheme.
“I think Master Builders has taken a really positive step here. It’s an excellent way to encourage people like Ben who are really keen to learn, as well as promoting the Association,” Mr Ross says.
While the scholarship is obviously great news for Ben, Mr Boswell admits there are some truly positive effects for Registered Master Builders also.
“By encouraging students with true potential and passion, it’s a great way of fostering future membership.
“Registered Master Builders needs young people like Ben to be the leaders of tomorrow.”
