Apprenticeship programme
Want to learn a new trade? To earn good income? To learn in a safe environment from the best in the business? If you have the right stuff – good attitude, hard-working, eager to learn, a team player – then ABL could give you the chance you’ve been looking for.
The company offers young people a comprehensive three- to four-year apprenticeship training programme, designed to teach all the skills you’ll need to become a top carpenter. And if you’re good enough, ABL will help you acquire your tools, and even help pay your way through an appropriate carpentry-trades apprenticeship programme at a regional polytech.
Why? Because ABL believes in investing in the future of the building industry, says Dunedin-based Construction Supervisor Trevor Hart.
“I’ve been in the building industry ever since I came out of school,” says the amiable 59-year-old. “But my view is that someone took the time to train and teach me, so we owe it to the industry to train some of these young men. We owe it to try and enhance our own industry.”
The chronic shortage of skilled tradesmen led to ABL’s decision to double the number apprentices, so that now, in Dunedin alone, 13 young people are in the programme. Other ABL apprentices are working alongside skilled tradesmen through similar programmes at the Queenstown and Invercargill branches.
A man who clearly cares about his job and working with young people in particular, Hart liaises closely with each apprentice, carefully pairing each one with an older, more experienced hand.
“I really enjoy my job and looking after and helping these young men through their training,” he says. “But I also can’t speak highly enough of my leading hands and top carpenters who have the patience to work with these young men.”
And if it’s a clear career path you want, ABL can provide that, too, with some former apprentices now lead hands and top carpenters with the company.
Their success is due in part to the selective screening process. Hart chooses apprentices carefully, looking for qualities he knows makes the best tradesmen.
And with a one to two-month trial period, Hart and his foremen – as well as the apprentice – can find out quickly whether he or she will be the team player ABL is looking for.
“Our company motto is team performance, and we practice that,” Hart says. “And that comes right through from the top. We believe no one person can do it – ABL’s strength is in how we work as a team.”
Safety is also a critical part of the company culture.
“Health and safety is a huge factor in today’s industry. We’re getting away from that macho image.”
If there’s one message Hart instills in his apprentices, it’s this: If you’re unsure of heights or you think something’s not quite right, just say so.
“Apprentices have got to understand that they are entitled to their say – just like everyone else.”
Interested in applying for an ABL apprenticeship?
Contact the following local office for more information on how you can join the ABL team:
Ph: (03) 474 1392
Email:
Ph: (03) 216 9143
Email:
Ph: (03) 442 7235
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