Logo
Prev
search
Print
addthis
Rotate
Help
Next
GO TO DIFFERENT NEWSPAPER
Contents
All Pages
Browse Issues
Home
'
Dargaville District News : May 22nd 2013
Contents
Front Cover
www.dargavillenews.co.nz Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Delivered Wednesdays throughout the Kaipara District INSIDE Happy dog Staying put Money talk Cake cash E-EDITION Faithful Sam finds a new home -- P3 Stockie life has long- term appeal -- P10 Keep insurance forms honest -- P15 Kaipara District Council staff raised funds to fight breast cancer -- see the photos (story P3). Plus photos from the weekend's rally action in the Kaipara. Go to dargaville news.co.nz and click Latest Edition. Earn and learn By PETRICE TARRANT Promising futures: Aroa Robertson, left, and Jimmy McFarlane are thriving in their Farrand and Mason apprenticeships under the guidance of Kevin Mason. Photos: PETRICE TARRANT Newly qualified: Jay Juretich and Adam Bradley both completed a four-year apprenticeship at Newman Engineering. CASH INCENTIVES TO BOOST TRAINEE NUMBERS HANDS-ON businesses are pulling their weight when it comes to apprenticeships. Competenz Northland account manager Derek Probert says Dargaville is among those leading the way. Industry Training Feder- ation statistics for the Sept- ember 2012 quarter show Kaipara businesses support- ing 46 modern apprentices and training 368 people in 16 different industries. Far North district busi- nesses trained 84 modern apprentices with an esti- mated population three times the size of Kaipara. Up until April 1 a modern apprentice was a 16 to 21-year-old studying to- wards a level 4 qualification. Mr Probert says one mis- conception is that app- renticeships died. People say oh, it's good to see apprenticeships starting up again'. That's wrong. They never stopped, just the way they were administered changed.'' Engineering firm Farrand and Mason has trained more than 50 apprentices since it opened in 1954. Owner Kevin Mason says it still has up to three train- ing at any one time. Window and Door Services owner Kevin Sowter has taken on two apprentices in his 18 years of business and says it was definitely the right decision'. It could be more cost effective to get that qualified tradesman who does all the aspects of the job you need but you've got to pay big bucks to find out.'' He says he would have to hire a glazier, a locksmith and a repairs man to do the job of one of his apprentices. Howwedoituphereisa lot different to places like the city.'' He says hiring apprentices is the perfect way to mould a worker specifically for your business' needs. I can have days off now. That's a big thing when you run your own company. I think hiring apprentices is definitely the right ans- wer.'' Newman Engineering cel- ebrated the graduation of two of its apprentices in April and co-owner Margaret Bishop says taking on young people is something her busi- ness will always do. My husband John was an adult apprentice so we know first hand the value of app- renticeships.'' Now is the perfect time for people to consider learning and earning at the same time. The first 10,000 applicants who enrol in apprenticeships after April 1 receive $1000 towards tools and off- job course costs, or $2000 if they are in 'priority construction trades', as the Government kick starts moves to boost numbers in training. The New Zealand Apprentice scheme replaces the Modern Apprentice Scheme which was only available to 16 to 21-year-olds. Robyn Dawes is one of two former Northland women to become New Zealand's first qualified cable jointers in the electricity sector. The 25-year-old, now based in Auckland, is a formally certified cable jointer after a three year apprenticeship. The former Dargaville resident has a degree in ITandsaysitwasa chance sighting of a newspaper advertisement that led her to the electricity sector and a career change. Northpower's business support general manager Barbara Harrison says the achievement is impressive.
Links
Archive
May 15th 2013
Navigation
Next Page
