Christchurch apprentice wins Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2018 Apprentice of the Year

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Peter Ravn from Christchurch has been named the country’s top carpentry apprentice, taking out the title of Registered Master Builders CARTERS 2018 Apprentice of the Year at this year’s national competition.

Peter went head to head with nine other national finalists in a tough six-hour practical challenge. They were tasked with building a complex garden station that put their skills to the test.

Peter, 26, is employed by Armitage Williams Construction Ltd, and was trained through the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO).

Corbin Mills, 22, from New Plymouth, employed by B D Hill Building Ltd and trained through the BCITO, placed second in the competition.

Third place was awarded to Kyle Tonks, 22, from Porirua, who is employed by Tonks Residential Construction Ltd and also trained through the BCITO.

The competition judges said Peter was an outstanding all-rounder, and gave a solid performance throughout the competition.

“To be successful in this industry, you must be an all-rounder. Peter demonstrated high competency across all aspects of the competition,” they said.

“Peter had a good submission, was a great communicator in his interview, and displayed high quality skills in the practical challenge.

“He shows maturity and passion for his craft, with a clear vision to be an industry leader. His professionality is admirable — he is a worthy winner of the 2018 Apprentice of the Year.”

The two-day national competition saw each of the 10 finalists undergo a 45-minute individual interview with the judging panel. This was followed by the challenging practical component, the garden station build.

All 10 garden stations will be donated to local schools, and are designed to help children learn about growing food. The challenge took place in front of an audience of family, friends and the general public at the ASB Showgrounds.

The gala awards, hosted by Mike Puru, were held later in the evening.

Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly says it was great to see the young apprentices demonstrate such a high level of skill so early in their careers.

“For 14 years, Apprentice of the Year has been showcasing and rewarding the best and brightest of our industry’s apprentices,” Mr Kelly says.

“They are our future leaders, and have demonstrated high craft standards throughout the competition. They are an inspiration to those looking to join the industry.”

Mr Kelly also says the competition acknowledges and celebrates the employers that contribute to the industry by investing in young talent.

“We need more employers to invest their time, skills and energy into training apprentices.

“It’s great to see so many companies entering their apprentices into the competition year after year, and we applaud them for their ongoing and continued investment in young talent.”

Supporting the competition for the 14th year running is principal sponsor CARTERS. Chief executive Mike Guy says they were incredibly proud to be involved in helping support the careers of such a talented group of apprentices.

“Apprentice of the Year reflects CARTERS’ dedication to supporting New Zealand’s apprentices through investing in training and mentoring,” Mr Guy says.

“Attracting young talent to our industry is essential to the success of New Zealand’s booming construction sector,” he says.

“We congratulate Peter and all the finalists for their commitment and passion for the industry, and we look forward to seeing them make their mark on the industry.”

Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be a part of the construction industry are encouraged to join the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/registeredmasterbuilders.

For more information, visit www.apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz.

The Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition is made possible thanks to principal sponsor CARTERS, the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), and supporting sponsor the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

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