Building a good apprentice

This Issue This is a part of the Skills feature

By - , Build 141

The employer of an award-winning apprentice says it’s about getting the right person and training them well, and once they’ve got the skills, it’s knowledge that can be passed on to the next apprentice to sign up.

Left to right, BCITO CEO Ruma Karaitiana, Maurice Williamson, Apprentice of the Year 2013 Bill Harkness, Paul Bull, Ben Redmond and David Fabish.
Left to right, BCITO CEO Ruma Karaitiana, Maurice Williamson, Apprentice of the Year 2013 Bill Harkness, Paul Bull, Ben Redmond and David Fabish.

IF YOU COULD draw up the plans for a successful apprentice, it might look something like this – two pallets of hard work, a barrow load of mistakes made, 100 metres of lessons learned, 20 boxes of skills acquired, a job-lot of challenges met and as much support as you can fit on the back of a truck.

The truth is that, behind every great apprentice, there is a great mentor.

The right person is key

Ben Redmond is the employer and mentor of Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year 2013 William (Bill) Harkness. Ben has been in the building trade all his life and, since starting his own business 7 years ago, has trained five apprentices.

‘I’ve been in industry for almost 20 years. It wasn’t something I set out to do, but I’m 37 now, and it’s all I’ve ever done.

‘When I left school, I started working for my uncle who was a builder. I really just fell into it, and I stayed. I enjoyed the work. It was something I was good at, and I liked the creative aspect. I also really enjoyed working with older, more experienced guys and learning from them.

‘I like working with apprentices – I’ve had four complete since I started working for myself. Bill will be my fifth, and I’ve got a sixth at the moment. Employing the right person is key, and I’ve always had high expectations.

‘One of the first apprentices I trained just won the Auckland House of the Year competition, and I’m really proud of him, although I guess now Bill has set the standard for my future apprentices pretty high.

‘It’s all about getting the right kid and training them well – finding someone you can work with, that works for your business. Training just makes sense. If you put the effort in, your business can really benefit.’

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2–3 years to form a competent tradesperson

‘At the beginning of their time, training an apprentice is all about investment of time, skills and energy. Once they hit that magic time, about 2½ or 3 years in, they become a really competent tradesperson, and it shows. Then I bring a new guy through and give the experienced apprentice the responsibility of mentoring a young apprentice themselves.

‘The new apprentice goes to the experienced one first to seek help or ask advice rather than asking me. The more experienced apprentice then takes responsibility for and keeps an eye on the younger or less experienced one.

‘Bill is at that stage now – mentoring an apprentice and passing on his knowledge and experience. It gives him a sense of responsibility and helps to cement his skill set, teaching someone else.

‘I’ve known Bill since he was 10 years old. Once he was old enough, he worked for us in the school holidays. And he’s always been a standout in my mind. He took instruction well, he always did what he could to impress, but he wasn’t a try-hard. I saw early on that he had real potential. Once he was old enough and was getting ready to leave school, I approached him about an apprenticeship. He just has a natural ability.

‘I didn’t have a lot of work on – it was the middle of the recession – and he had already signed up with the army to do an apprenticeship in carpentry (one of only five in the country, I think). I really wanted to give him a go, and he wanted to stay with me, so I offered him an apprenticeship. I just had to convince his mum.

‘From there, Bill just went from strength to strength. The more confident he got, the better he got. He was soon my go-to man, my leading hand.

‘The bottom line is that there aren’t any downsides to supporting your apprentice to be their best. When your apprentice succeeds, so does your business. Who wouldn’t want a top class tradesperson to work alongside every day?’

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Left to right, BCITO CEO Ruma Karaitiana, Maurice Williamson, Apprentice of the Year 2013 Bill Harkness, Paul Bull, Ben Redmond and David Fabish.
Left to right, BCITO CEO Ruma Karaitiana, Maurice Williamson, Apprentice of the Year 2013 Bill Harkness, Paul Bull, Ben Redmond and David Fabish.

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