After leaving James Hargest College Brennan was given the opportunity to become a Modern Apprentice, employed by Elliotte Brick and Blocklaying Ltd.

Brennan has his own Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator who develops an individual Training Plan for him. This Coordinator works with Brennan, as his own personal mentor/coach, to assist him in achieving the requirements for his apprenticeship qualification.

Southern Group Training is the Modern Apprentice Coordinator for all the building trades in Southland including bricklaying and tiling.

Brennan’s Training Plan outlines what unit standards are required to complete his chosen qualification then identifies, based on what work he doing in the workplace, which unit standards Brennan should be working towards achieving competency in at any given time.

To achieve practical competency he has to be able to complete the required practical tasks consistently well, unsupervised, in a commercial timeframe, using safe work practices. This level of competency is gained through practical work experience on job and through a series of block courses.

Because all Brennan’s practical assessment is done during his annual block courses in Wellington it is really important that he be well prepared for them before he leaves. It is, therefore, important that he makes good use of his time spent on site learning the practical skills of his trade.