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Welcome to Eastern Hutt Rotary's e-Bulletin.
This Week's Speaker:
Graham Newdick commenced in the construction industry at the age of 17 and was running 2 companies by age 23. But he joined BCITO 10 years ago and has been running the marketing & promotions of construction apprenticeships.
He has seen the number of apprentices increase from 3,000 to present level of 12,000 nationwide today - in fact, 15,000 are needed! Financially, they compete very favourably to the Open Polytechnics in New Zealand.
Most importantly, it's not only technical skills (like this!) taught but also life skills. He said, "It's a journey, starting from ground zero!" as many apprentices go on to become trade professionals. With New Zealand wanting more houses, there are presently 1,235 job openings because of a huge shortage of people active in trades.
The new Government has announced it'll pay tuition fees for the 1st year, so there is clearly a huge incentive for young people to choose a trade apprenticeship over years struggling at a university.
Week's Parting Thought:
"The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists."
Thanks received from Diane Livingston, Wellington Free Ambulance, for Eastern Hutt's joint financial contribution towards their new vehicle, "Ambulance 432".
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