For the first time ever, EIT Hawke’s Bay has 100 carpentry apprentices on its books with the recent signing of Julie Anniss by ET Homes. Now she’ll be completing her qualifications online using an app specifically designed by EIT.
Julie completed a year-long pre-trades course that included working two days a week with Eddie Timu of ET Homes in 2017. Eddie himself is a graduate of the Level 3 carpentry programme at EIT.
When Julie’s course ended she started working with Eddie full-time. Her enthusiasm and skills earnt her an apprenticeship offer.
Shane Sigglekow, EIT Trades and Technology School programme coordinator for apprenticeships and cadetships, worked with an app designer for a year to create and refine the online tool that records theoretical and practical milestones.
It was introduced at the beginning of 2018. Already 45 apprentices being managed through EIT are using it. The balance use the traditional printed hard copy record keeping system.
“The app has modernised the system. It’s leading edge,” says Shane. “We’ve had superb buy-in. The young people love it because it does away with cutting and pasting into a hard copy diary. They can take photos and post them and notes all with their phone.
“The bosses like it too. They can login themselves and see at a glance whether their apprentice is keeping on track with the work.”
Julie’s pre-trades tutor in 2017, Tom Hay doesn’t expect her to have any issues keeping up with the ‘paper work’. “Julie was a great student with 100 percent attendance, she was always keen and clever with the theory.”
She was one of four female students in the Level 3 pre-trades course in 2017. Three have gained apprenticeships.
“I knew seven or eight years ago that I wanted to build,” says Julie. The 19 year old was delighted to discover that EIT offered carpentry. “I came to the Open Day and flicked through the brochure. I was rapt to see the courses and that we got to build a house. And now that I’ve been hired it’s just amazing.”
Julie has the app downloaded to her phone and says Eddie’s right on board.
To celebrate the 100th milestone, Julie will be presented with a selection of gifts coordinated by EIT and donated by industry suppliers at an end of year prizegiving next week.
Tumu ITM and Makita contributed a $500 gift voucher, and Tumu will also pay Julie’s first year apprenticeship fees. NZ Safety Blackwoods donated safety boots. EIT’s Salon Elite and Refresh Beauty Clinic each donated a $50 voucher.
In addition to the 100 apprentices on the books in Hawke’s Bay, there is another 30 signed up through the Tairāwhiti campus in Gisborne.
As the construction industry continues to ramp up, Shane anticipates that he may well be managing 120 apprentices in 2019.