Having completed his secondary schooling at Southland Boys High School Steve successfully applied to undertake the engineering pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology. In 2004 he was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and is on placement with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd.

To complete the Level 4 National Certificate in Maintenance & Diagnostics Engineering Steve must complete a range of unit standards comprising both theory and practical elements. Steve’s off job theory training has been provided by S.I.T through his attendance at weekly evening classes and through a three week block course each year.

As a Modern Apprentice Steve has his own Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator who has developed an individual training plan for him which sets realistic goals and timeframes to achieve them in. The Coordinator meets with Steve on a regular basis and is available as a mentor to both Steve and his supervisor.

Southern Group Training is the only Southland based Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator in Southland and provides the free Modern Apprenticeship service to a wide range of industries.