Placement to apprenticeship

August 22, 2017

Building apprentice O’Shea Mead-Cadore with his employer Brendan Fry.

EIT student O’Shea Mead-Cadore has a lot on his plate but is well on his way to becoming a qualified builder.

Having completed the level 3 Certificate in Carpentry last year, O’Shea is now studying the level 4 National Certificate in Carpentry while working full-time as an apprentice for Brendan Fry Builder Ltd.

“I have always had a passion for building things, even as a little kid with Lego. Studying at EIT Tairāwhiti was a good way to figure out whether or not I actually wanted to be a builder.

After the first year of study I definitely knew I wanted to pursue the trade.”

Owner-operator Brendan Fry says that after hosting O’Shea on work experience from EIT, he was keen to have him on board as an apprentice.

“He is punctual, well-mannered and enthusiastic and is always studying and interested in learning. I have had a few apprentices and O’Shea is the only one to have brought out notes and started asking questions.”

Brendan says having O’Shea come from EIT was an obvious plus.

“Knowing how to use tools and having that basic first stage of knowledge from the intro course is just a huge benefit to us.

“It also means we aren’t getting them straight from school when they are really green. It is a real bonus.”