A positive audience of over 50 people embraced the presentation of 32 medals at PrintNZ’s debut Apprentice Training Graduation Ceremony in Christchurch’s picturesque Cardboard Cathedral last week.
Following a video illustration of the intricacies of print production in its numerous forms, PrintNZ general manager Ruth Cobb paid tribute to both the industry’s trainees and their supporters. She acknowledged sponsors BJ Ball, Fujifilm and DIC, all of whom played an important role in the training programmes and graduation ceremonies.
She said, “We have always celebrated our top apprentices, but PrintNZ wanted to expand the celebrations to recognise everybody who had successfully completed a training programme in 2014. In addition to providing the trainees with a memento of their hard work, we are delighted to be able to do so with their families, friends and employers present.”
Dan Blackbourn, president of PrintNZ, recalled his own contrasting experience of having received an apprenticeship certificate in the mail. He urged attendees to further their commitment to training and to pursue the Training Company of the Year and Trainer of the Year awards.
The graduates, their managers, and their families spoke in support of the graduation concept.
The new graduation medals have received a warm reception from the Kiwi printing community
Mathew Scott, from Orora Cartons’, travelled from Wellington for the event and received a Level 5 Print Diploma. He said, “It is really good that this is being done. It is a great recognition and I’ve completely looked forward to it.”
His father, Alan Scott Orora Cartons New Zealand general manager, praised his son for the graft put into achieving the qualification. Scott senior said, “He is now doing other training in customer service and sales and so could go in any direction within the company. Having a large company, I would like as many people as possible to go into the Diploma and I have managers currently doing it.”
Jared Maxwell Smith, sign manager at EIL, represented Apprentice of the Year finalist Drew Solakof, who was overseas after completing Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications. Maxwell Smith said the event had increased his own awareness of the industry training programmes available, “I was quite surprised to see how well organised it was. I literally got a piece of paper for my apprenticeship, so to see this sort of thing with the trophies and the certificates is awesome.”
Solakof will no doubt look at further study, encouraged by Maxwell Smith, who added, “He is talking about a Diploma in Print and we are training him up in production as well. He is definitely keen to move up the ladder and I’m a big believer in helping someone with their future I got the opportunity to do it and I want other people to be able to as well.”
Apprentice of the Year semi-finalistvSarah Baker, from Oamaru Print and Copy’s, travelled with her partner and a friend to receive her Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications. She said, “The highlights are when you get the results and do well. I had been in the industry for several years and I thought I knew a lot, but then you start training and you realise how much you don’t know.”
Fellow semi-finalist Kayla Lockett, from the Otago Daily Times, also received Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications. She said having previously gained experience in the design field, the training programmes had since widened her knowledge of the overall print industry and she was now considering undertaking a Management Diploma. She said, “It’s been great to share with everyone that I’ve actually done something.”
Her father, Kevin Dackers, said, “I am very impressed with tonight and to have medals. For me that is a big thing. Kayla has always been a quiet assassin, she plays down what she does, but when you talk to the people she works with and her boss, they rate her very highly.”
Lockett’s mother, Lynley Dackers, said, “She has always kept me in the loop as to where she was at and I’ve thought that was huge. Both Kevin and I have done apprenticeships when we were younger and it is important that they know they have done well.”
Simon Black, from New Zealand Post, received a Level 3 qualification. He praised the structure of the training programme, noting that “everything was readily available.”
Marie Watson, production manager at New Zealand Post, whose Christchurch division is enrolling all of its employees in industry training programmes, praised PrintNZ for hosting the event and providing recognition to those trainees. And New Zealand Post team manager Steve Hooper, said, “Now that we know about it, it will grow. The first thing we have talked about is that we want our company to be one of the Training Company of the Year finalists. Hopefully we will have 30-40 people here next year.”
Heide Richards, from Orora Cartons, welcomed the opportunity to celebrate her Level 2 qualification amongst colleagues and confirmed she had already embarked upon Level 3 training.
Nigel Harrison, Orora Cartons operations manager, said Orora will continue its long-term commitment to industry training programmes. He said, “We give everyone a chance to do Level 2 when they come into the business,” he said. If that works out we put them on a Level 3 and if they show some aspiration we put them onto a Level 4 and further. We have always been a big supporter.”
Central Auckland’s Heritage Hotel will play host to the second PrintNZ Apprentice Training Graduation Ceremony on April 22. The five Apprentice of the Year Finalists attend the Pride In Print Awards night at Wellington’s TSB Arena on May 1.
For tickets to the graduation ceremonies or for any other information please email PrintNZ general manager ruth.cobb@printnz.co.nz or phone 027 248 9404.
