Written by Jon Rawlinson. Originally published by the Franklin Times
When the chips (and the chippies) are down, small errors can lead to big problems. Fortunately, for Oliver (Ollie) Wooles from Harrison Lane, his measures were not found wanting during the recent Master Builders Carters Apprentice of the Year Auckland contest.
“It’s a tough competition. We’re working for multi-award-winning companies, so the standards are bloody high,” the Pukekohe builder told the Times.
“My approach was to just not worry about what everyone else was doing and concentrate on my own work. “I was definitely surprised to win. Obviously, you put your name down because you want to win, but to actually go ahead and do it is pretty special.”
Almost 100 apprentices from nine regions have been taking part in regional competitions involving overviews of building projects and practical challenges.
The top 10 in each region are interviewed by judges during on-site visits and tested on technical understanding, communication, project involvement and industry knowledge.
Experts in rural construction, Waiau Pa-based Harrison Lane knew they were onto a winner when they employed Wooles.
“When Ollie came to his interview with us four years ago, he said he wanted to enter Apprentice of the Year and win,” the company’s managing director, Laura Daly says.
“So, it’s great to see him achieve a goal like this. We’re really thrilled for him.”
Wooles’ worth was also obvious to the contest’s judges. ‘His joinery background was evident in the quality of detail throughout, while his interview showed a level of maturity that impressed,’ a statement confirms.
‘His consistently high standard across the competition made an outstanding impression and marks him as a highly deserving regional winner.’
Master Builders chief executive Ankit Sharma says the competition recognises apprentices building strong foundations for their careers.
“As our sector continues to evolve, skilled apprentices remain at the heart of delivering the high-quality homes and buildings New Zealand needs,” he adds.
“It is encouraging to see such strong talent coming through the industry, and the standard displayed throughout this year’s competition gives us real confidence in the next generation of builders.”
Wooles will now progress to the national final at The Cloud in Auckland, October 7–9.
