Joseph completed his secondary education at Southland Boys High School and applied for a number of jobs before deciding that being a sheet fed printing apprentice might be worth serious consideration. Joseph was offered employment as an apprentice with Southern Group Training and placed on secondment with McDowall Print as his host company for his practical on job training.

A printing apprenticeship requires the completion of the theory components of a range of unit standards through distance learning which requires the apprentice to develop and maintain good study habits. Additional tuition support is provided through attendance at annual block courses in either Christchurch or Auckland.

Southern Group Training, as employer, pays for Joseph’s Training Manual, his distance learning course material and block course fees, and pays him while he is attending his annual block course. Travel and accommodation costs for block courses held outside Southland are also covered.

Joseph has his own Training Manager who has developed an individual training plan for him which sets realistic goals and timeframes to achieve them in. The Training Manager meets with Joseph on a regular basis and is available as a mentor to both Joseph and his supervisor.