? Lighting up the night with Carol services
TradeStart Apprentice of the Year: Drew Avery, from Stokes Valley Collision Repair Service.
Drew Avery was named the inaugural Apprentice of the Year at the Lower Hutt Town Hall earlier this month. The WelTec graduate became the first recipient of the accolade in the Hutt Valley Business Excellence Awards. Apprenticeships can often take years to complete, but with commitment, hard work and the support of his employer, Wakefield and Scott Ltd, Mr Avery completed his apprenticeship in record time. ?My study has credited towards my apprenticeship, which has meant that I was able to get through it faster. ?For me, completing a pre-trade programme has meant I was able to be hands-on from the start, which I wouldn?t have gotten going straight into an apprenticeship,? says Mr Avery. Offered a job before completing his studies, he worked and studied simultaneously in order to complete both his pre-trade qualification and apprenticeship. The Hutt Valley award will join his 2009 IAG Apprentice of the Year Award on the mantelpiece. His award and subsequent sponsorship by IAG has led to a number of exciting opportunities including being a part of the State Insurance Smash Repair Team in the Hamilton 400 and working in the crew at the Hamilton Super Car Competition. Owning his own paint and panel shop is the long term goal for Mr Avery. In the more immediate future, he?s hoping to compete in the WorldSkills Refinishing Competition in 2010. In the early stages of his studies at WelTec Drew placed second in the regional WorldSkills competition and third in the national competition in 2008. ?It was a good experience that I enjoyed it and learnt a lot. ?Having now finished my studies and my apprenticeship I?d like to think that I will place even better next year,? he says.
