After an extremely difficult year, the industry has a chance to celebrate its trainees, especially the Top 12 Apprentices of the Year, says Ruth Cobb, chief executive at PrintNZ. Full details on the Top 12 Apprentices (pictured) are at the bottom of this story.
Cobb says the PrintNZ Top 12 Apprentices of the Year have demonstrated admirable levels of skill, adaptability, and fundamental hard work in trying circumstances.
She says, “Despite Covid-19, we are thrilled to have such a broad group of high-calibre graduates and whitling them down to the Top 12 was far from an easy task for judges to complete.
“While 2020 threw us a curve ball the likes of which we have never seen before, and sent many of us off course with our plans last year, it did not stop this group of apprentices from completing their studies and gaining their qualifications to the highest of standards.
“These apprentices have all excelled in their specific disciplines and being named in the Top 12 is a fitting accolade for the hard work they have put in.”
With PrintNZ’s focus on providing leadership and remaining at the forefront of evolutions across the entire sector, she says, “It is pleasing to again witness the Top 12 recognising the broad range of sectors that come under the print umbrella.
“For instance, there are many overlapping areas within sign and print. In many cases, the work is produced on the same machinery. Printers make signs and sign makers do printing.
“As our industry continues to evolve, so too should our celebrations of people and products. So, we are thrilled to have such a broad range of graduates included in our Top 12 Apprentices of the Year.”
She adds that employers, managers and training advisors play crucial roles in training. She says, “They recognise and encourage their apprentice’s talent. This deserves significant acknowledgement.
“We hope this year that we can suitably recognise those achievements and contributions at our Industry Graduations. Also, of course, we will move to the naming of the overall Apprentice of the Year at the Pride In Print Awards on June 25 at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland.”
However, in light of recent and potential future Covid-19 scares, gatherings will only take place if appropriate to circumstances. She says, “First and foremost is our desire to ensure that our industry and its community of people are safe.”
BJ Ball is the main sponsor for the Apprentice of the Year.
For further information, please E-mail PrintNZ general manager Ruth Cobb at ruth.cobb@printnz.co.nz or phone 027 248 9404.
The Top 12 Apprentices
Russell Allen, Quality Print (Taupo) – Digital
Alexander Cameron-Brown, Peacock Brothers (Auckland) – Packaging
Kieran Densey, Allied Press (Greymouth) – Offset Print
Sean Housby, Soar Print (Auckland) – Binding and Finishing
Travis Jordan, Soar Print (Auckland) – Digital
Toby Marsh, Signbiz (Christchurch) – Signmaking
Craig Murray, Global Culture (Christchurch) – Screen
Todd Nicholls, Webstar (Masterton) – Offset Print
Karl Pearson, Printcraft 81 (Masterton) – Digital
Rebecca Pond (nee Brooks), SignCraft Kapiti (Waikanae) – Signmaking
Georgia Pritchard, BB Signs (Blenheim) – Signmaking
Pranil Ram, Stratex New Zealand (Auckland) – Packaging
