Swug New Zealand has named Navdeep Sidhu, an NZME Print Ellerslie print finishing (reel fed) trainee, as its the Apprentice of the Year for 2015.
DS Chemport sponsored the award, which Sidhu received at this year’s Swug conference in Rotorua.
Top apprentice: from left James Ackland, associate director at DS Chemport; Navdeep Sidhu, Swug Apprentice of the Year; and Graeme Robertson, business development manager at DS Chemport
In 2004, Sidhu joined NZME, then APN Print as a casual operator in the prepress department. He commenced his apprenticeship in January 2014 and should complete it ahead of the projected completion date in May 2017. He says, “I am grateful to my seniors for recognising my potential and providing me with this moment of immense happiness. This award has made me feel satisfied that I am moving towards the right direction and will be able to avail many more opportunities while growing alongside my company. I dedicate this award to my seniors, my team and my family who have been a great support throughout my career.”
He adds that the apprenticeship has widened his knowledge of the printing trade. He says, “I count these opportunities as stepping stones moving further towards a successful career. I consider myself a lifelong learner, with a get-along attitude who has high morale, values and ethics which is necessary for an organisation to grow.”
Russell Wieck, operations manager at NZME Print Ellerslie, says Sidhu’s positive attitude, quality of workmanship and mechanical capabilities immediately impressed everyone at the company. Wieck says, “He was rewarded for these attributes with a part-time position in the post press department in April 2005 before stepping up to a full-time role as an operator in July 2006.
“Navdeep waited patiently for a number of years honing his skills until the opportunity of an apprenticeship became available. Navdeep was an obvious candidate for the position and he impressed even further during the interview process en route to being the successful applicant. Navdeep has a strong passion for learning and is using the training delivered under the apprenticeship system to add to his very strong mechanical aptitude. He is well on the path to becoming an outstanding tradesperson as a result of this dedication and commitment.”
In addition to running the Ellerslie plant’s Saturday night shift in a supervisory role as required, Sidhu has recently taken on extra responsibilities as fire warden and occupational health and safety representative. Wieck says, “Always reliable, punctual and extremely flexible, Navdeep has excellent organisational skills and relishes the chance to plan shifts or suggest better work practices.”
Wieck says the challenge of completing an adult apprenticeship while being a devoted family has not fazed Mr Sidhu. He says, “In fact it makes his resolve to be successful that much stronger. “Navdeep’s commitment to his apprenticeship and his role as an operator is exactly what an employer looks for in an employee and he is a very important member of the staff at NZME Print Ellerslie. We are lucky to have such a fine person in our team.”
David Eagles, account manager at Competenz, says Sidhu has achieved excellent marks in the Level Three assignments completed to date, describing him as “an outstanding person.”
