Sam Greaney wins ATNZ 2021 Apprentice of the year

Apprentice Training New Zealand Limited (ATNZ), the largest employer of engineering apprentices in the country are thrilled to announce Sam Greaney as the 2021 ATNZ Apprentice of the year. The award, sponsored by NZ Safety Blackwoods, represents the pinnacle of achievement amongst over 370 ATNZ apprentices.

Sam is in the final year of his apprenticeship in steel construction at our Napier based host company, Patton Engineering. Sam is a credit to both ATNZ and to Patton Engineering where has been earmarked as a top performer and is already working as a site lead across some major projects. Sam has worked across projects as big as the Paddington Apartments, the Wellington Children’s Hospital Link Bridge and St James’s theatre, all in Wellington.

Nigel Homburg, Project Engineer at Patton Engineering said of Sam that he “has demonstrated a willingness to learn, superb organisational abilities and has embraced additional skills, tasks, duties and responsibilities.” ATNZ Regional lead Ben Julian was ebullient in saying “Sam is a once in a lifetime apprentice. One that I will remember for a very long time and will use as an example to others. He will go far in his career and has already achieved some big goals.”

Sam had a lot to live up to with his brothers both winning top awards during their apprenticeships and he certainly did not disappoint.

Fellow finalists Elizabeth Humberstone of JP Marshall, and Christopher Douglas of Container Co were the other two worthy finalists amongst a very strong field of applicants. The strength of applications reflects very well, not only on ATNZ and our nearly 200 host companies, but also for the future of the engineering sector in New Zealand.