NEWS

Applications now open for ATNZ Apprentice of the Year 2021

30 September 2021

The country’s largest employer of mechanical engineering apprentices, Apprentice Training New Zealand (ATNZ), is thrilled to announce applications are now open for their highly coveted Apprentice of the Year Award.

ATNZ CEO Rebecca Smith said the award is open to all ATNZ apprentices in their second year or more of on-the-job training and recognises the skills and talent of an exceptional learner.

“This award is the highlight of our year and celebrates an ATNZ apprentice who is not only thriving in their apprenticeship but also has an outstanding attitude. They are proactive in their work, particularly around health and safety, and show obvious pride and satisfaction in what they do,” Ms Smith said.

Along with the mana of being named ATNZ Apprentice of the Year, the winner will receive $1,000 of tools and a $1,000 electronics voucher. 

This is the fourth year of the awards for ATNZ, a not-for-profit group training organisation that employs more than 380 engineering apprentices and places them with host companies around New Zealand.

Ms Smith said applications come from across all spheres of the engineering trade and she asks host companies to encourage their ATNZ apprentices to apply.

“Every year the standard of applications just gets higher and higher: it’s a nice problem for the judging panel to have trying to separate the talent to find a winner. We know with the disruptions of COVID-19 and lockdowns how much our apprentices have shown their value. We want our host companies’ help to celebrate these success stories loudly and proudly”, Ms Smith said.

Applications for Apprentice of the Year 2021 must be received by no later than 5 pm on Friday 22 October 2020. The winner and runner-up will be announced at a ceremony later in the year.

Full details, judging criteria, application tips and terms and conditions are available on the application form.

General engineering apprentice Lachlan Hamilton-Ralph was the 2020 winner. The judges noted his resilience in the face of both a challenging year with the global pandemic and in coming back for a second crack at the award, having been named runner up the previous year. He also demonstrated obvious passion for engineering along with outstanding references from his host company, Obtuse Limited and their customers. A true ATNZ success story, Lachlan completed his trades qualification in January of this year.