Every year The NZ Apprentice of the Year Awards celebrate the successes of those choosing to enter the print industry – GSM takes a look…
Each year PrintNZ and industry training partner, CompeteNZ, sponsor the NZ Apprentice of the Year Awards. Winners are selected from five sectors— offset printing, digital printing, screen printing, packaging and finishing & binding. Two further awards are also granted. These are the coveted Supreme Apprentice of the Year and Trainer of the Year. Winners are announced at The Pride in Print Awards Gala.
As Ruth Cobb, Chief Executive of PrintNZ explains, ‘The awards recognise those who have excelled in their studies, as well as having shown great enthusiasm for their work. Our industry requires skilled workers to produce excellent products. It’s important to celebrate those people and the employers who have recognised their talent and provided them with the opportunity to do so.’
Supreme Apprentice & Trainer of the Year – Soar Print
The 2021 Supreme Apprentice of the Year award went to Travis Jordan and Trainer of the Year went to Alex Huynh. Both are from Soar Print in Auckland. This result for Soar Print reflects the ongoing investment they make in their people. As Managing Director Fred Soar explains, ‘Craft & Pride is one of our core values, so this is an important validation.’ Fred, an avid supporter of training apprentices adds, ‘Employees who have been through the apprenticeship training are skilled on the Soar equipment and processes. This alleviates the problem of finding good people. Another advantage is that staff tend to stay on. Some stay for decades, others leave to do things like their O.E (not at the moment)… but often to return and add new skills to the mix.’
Training can, at times, interfere with an employees workload. But as Fred says, ‘we plan around that and designate time at work for apprentices to do their study. We’ve noticed a distinct increase in productivity, especially when it comes to apprentices loving to learn the ‘ins & outs’ of the software on the equipment. They get to learn the old school craft from the tradesmen, the physics and chemistry behind print from their courses but their utilisation of the newer equipment’s software and automation is next level! The value of return offsets the cost of the training. You definitely come out on the winning side, particularly with the incentives created post COVID19!’.
Soaring to New Heights…
The award winning team from Soar Print (Auckland): Managing Director Fred Soar, Trainer of the Year 2021 Alex Huynh and Travis Jordan, Supreme Apprentice of the Year 2021. Well done team.
NZ Supreme Apprentice of the Year: Travis Jordan
Not quite sure what to do after leaving high school, Travis Jordan had a brief stint as a window glazier before contemplating joining the Police force. Initially, Travis joined Soar Print as a stopgap but once exposed to the diversity of what print offered, he was in! We talk to Travis Jordan—NZ Supreme Apprentice of the Year 2021:
GSM: Tell us what made you decide print was the career for you?
Travis: It was a new world to me. I worked with Rocket Print (Soar’s digital division) for a couple of years and really enjoyed what I was learning. It was also great to be part of a fantastic team. I really could not see myself anywhere else. When Soar offered me an apprenticeship in Digital Print I was ecstatic.
GSM: How did you manage with working and studying at the same time?
Travis: Admittedly, in my first couple of years I did not struggle balancing my bookwork and workload. However, with the growth we saw in the digital division and the increase in my responsibilities, it became a lot harder for me. Management noticed and very quickly allocated me time to do my necessary bookwork. This really helped me concentrate without having too much on my plate.
GSM: What was most rewarding when studying as an apprentice?
Travis: I would have to say the satisfaction of completing something totally new. In digital print we’re constantly innovating and tackling new projects. It’s truly rewarding to take part in this process, working collectively as a team to manufacture something that some just say ‘Cannot be done! ’.
GSM: What is it about the print industry that you enjoy?
Travis: Again, I would have to say innovation. I love to problem solve, whether it be how to tackle something new or a press breaking down. The best part about problem solving is that you learn more and understand how things really work. That better understanding only helps you more next time.
GSM: What challenges have you encountered as an apprentice?
Travis: Facing challenges is an essential part of learning for me. I think the constant evolution of digital print means you have to be willing to learn something new. I would say one of the biggest challenges for me would be manufacturing shrink sleeves. There are so many elements and processes involved. It really had me thinking about every step.
GSM: How did you feel being one of the top 12 apprentices and then going on to become the Supreme Apprentice of the Year?
Travis: I was blown away! To have my skill set recognised and my hard work rewarded truly meant a lot to me. But, in all honesty, I would have to say the other nominees have also proven they are the best in their respective field of print and most likely, the future leaders of the industry. We have all put in the same amount of effort and work to get where we are today. It’s that passion that makes it a career for me as opposed to ‘just’ a job.
GSM: What are your goals for the future?
Travis: To continue in the industry either from an operations point of view or a sales role. I am excited to see what the future holds and continue to watch and learn as the business grows, as well as myself.
GSM: And finally, what advice would you give to someone who is considering an apprenticeship in the print industry?
Travis: Give it a crack. There is so much diversity within the industry. There is something for everyone. In terms of digital print, the future is exciting. As technology evolves digital print closely follows. There is massive growth to be seen within New Zealand so it’s the best time to jump on board and start learning.
NZ Trainer of the Year 2021: Alex Huynh
Having spent 37 years in the print industry, Alex Huynh is a senior operator and supervisor at Soar Print and is responsible for training apprentices. He believes in the natural cycle of what you learn from society ultimately needs to be returned to society through teaching others. We chat to Alex…
GSM: What do you find rewarding as a trainer?
Alex: Watching a green newbie develop into a mature professional is always extremely rewarding. As they gain confidence, they feel more comfortable giving their input and suggesting new ways to do things. Sometimes I even learn new things from them! Every trainee is unique, their ideas are always different and exciting.
GSM: What sort of commitment do you need to be a trainer?
Alex: You have to be ready to put in the effort to know your trainee and how they work. A lot of trust, patience and communication is required. It’s important to accept that mistakes are bound to happen. When they do, you need to come up with a solution and help them learn from the experience.
GSM: An apprenticeship lasts over a long period of time. How does the relationship between trainer and apprentice change over time?
Alex: I like to keep my relationship with my apprentices casual and friendly, where they are more of a colleague than a student. Mutual respect is important and allows for an atmosphere where we can communicate freely. Although I am mentoring them, there are times they also teach me new things.
GSM: Can you describe any challenges you have as a trainer?
Alex: Maintaining a positive atmosphere can be a challenge at times, especially if a trainee has difficulty accepting constructive criticism or when there is tension between trainees if they feel the need to compete with one another.
GSM: Is there ever a conflict between your roles as a trainer and work colleague?
Alex: Not really. At the end of the day, I am still responsible for their productivity and the quality of the department. Maintaining good communication helps prevent confusion over my role and keeps up the mutual respect.
GSM: What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a trainer?
Alex: Be open-minded. This industry is constantly evolving and changing with new technology. Apprentices may do things in an unconventional but effective way, so keeping an open mind allows you to pick up new tricks and information!
The 2021 Winners (in alphabetical order):
Russell Allen – Quality Print (Taupo) Winning category: Digital
Rebecca Pond (nee Brooks) – SignCraft Kapiti (Waikanae) Winning category: Signmaking
Alexander Cameron-Brown – Peacock Brothers (Auckland) Winning category: Packaging
Kieran Densey – Allied Press (Greymouth) Winning category: Offset Print
Sean Housby – Soar Print (Auckland) Winning category: Binding & Finishing
Travis Jordan – Soar Print (Auckland) Winning category: Digital
Toby Marsh – Signbiz (Christchurch) Winning category: Signmaking
Craig Murray – Global Culture (Christchurch) Winning category: Screen
Todd Nicholls – Webstar (Masterton) Winning category: Offset Print
Karl Pearson – Printcraft 81 (Masterton) Winning category: Digital
Georgia Pritchard – BB Signs (Blenheim) Winning category: Signmaking
Pranil Ram – Stratex New Zealand (Auckland) Winning category: Packaging
