While at Blue Mountain College Daniel attended the Southland Secondary School Careers Expo where he was able to get information and advice on how best to get into a career in the engineering industry.

After completing his secondary education Daniel successfully applied to undertake an engineering pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology.

In mid 2007 Daniel was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and has been placed with Scott Sheetmetal in Gore for his on job practical training.

During the pre apprenticeship course students cover various health and safety requirements including first aid, safe use of hand tools and safe use of power tools all of which makes them safer in the workplace. They are also trained in the Level 2 unit standard requirements of their apprenticeship qualification which enables the student to be more useful in the workplace from the very beginning of their apprenticeship.

Employers prefer to employ people with a good understanding of the health and safety issues in the workplace and who are able to be useful from day one. The pre apprenticeship course also allows the student to demonstrate a good work ethic and an understanding of the need to be able to develop and maintain good timekeeping skills.