Amos Gillett – General Engineering

After completing his secondary schooling at Mount Anglem College Amos worked in several labouring roles before successfully applying to undertake an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training.

To complete the Level 2 National Certificate in General Engineering Amos must complete a range of unit standards comprising both theory and practical elements. Amos's off job theory training has been provided by S.I.T through his attendance at evening class and a three week block course. Upon completion of the Level 2 National Certificate in General Engineering Amos can move forward and complete the Level 4 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering.

Undertaking a pre apprenticeship course at a polytechnic is one pathway into an apprenticeship, working in industry also offers the opportunity to be promoted into an apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain a tertiary qualification at Level 4 without needing to take on a student debt. Apprentices are paid as they learn.

Brent Fowler – Heavy Fabrication Engineer

Former a student at Aurora College, Brent enrolled in the July 2007 condensed ACE Engineering pre apprenticeship programme which allowed him to complete all the requirements of the programme in a shorter period of time, thus allowing him to begin his apprenticeship earlier than previously would have been the case.

Southern Group Training employed Brent as an Industry Trainee for the duration of the ACE programme and placed him in full time paid work experience with different companies for four, two week periods of time. Brent was able to earn a basic wage, which was paid out to him over the duration of programme.

All the ACE Trainees were required to complete a weekly timesheet regardless of whether they were on work experience or at the Southern Institute of Technology. Failure to produce the timesheet on time would result in a delay in the Trainee being paid.

Brent has been employed by Southern Group Training as a Heavy Fabrication apprentice seconded to E-Type Engineering Ltd for the completion of his practical on job training.

Brett van Geuns – Apprentice Light Fab Engineer

Having completed his secondary schooling at Mount Anglem College Brett successfully applied to undertake the engineering pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology. At the completion of the course Brett was offered an apprenticeship with Sheet Metalcraft who signed him up as a Modern Apprentice with Southern Group Training.

As a Modern Apprentice Brett 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 Brett on a regular basis and is available as a mentor to both Brett and his supervisor.

Southern Group Training is the only Southland based Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator and provides the Modern Apprenticeship service for a wide range of industries at no cost to either the apprentice or employer.

Curtis Boyce – Apprentice General Engineer

After leaving Aurora College Curtis was given the opportunity to become a Modern Apprentice, employed by Nicholson Engineering in Bluff.

Curtis has his own Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator who develops an individual Training Plan for him. This Coordinator is industry qualified and works with Curtis, 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 engineering in Southland.

Curtis' Training Plan outlines what unit standards are required to complete his chosen qualification then identifies, based on what work he is doing in the workplace, which unit standards Curtis should be doing 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.

The theory units are taught and assessed at weekly evening classes held at the Southern Institute of Technology.

Establishing and maintaining a good study habit is necessary if apprentices are to complete their qualification in a good time frame. Failure to do so can significantly prolong the length of time it takes to complete an apprenticeship

Jonathan Stenton – Carpentery Apprentice

An apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain a tertiary qualification at Level 4 without needing to take on a student debt. Apprentices are paid as they learn.

Southern Group Training, as employer, pays for Jonathan's annual apprenticeship registration fee, and any other training costs.

Southern Group Training also provides apprentices with an interest free tool loan to enable apprentices to have a basic toolkit of their own from the beginning of their apprenticeship.

This means that the apprentice does not have to save up for each tool but has the basics of the required tool kit on hand. This means that the Jonathan does not need to borrow other trades people's tools to complete the tasks at hand. Apprentices are also provided with their own personal protective equipment.

Jonathan, a former student of Cargill High, is apprenticed to Southern Group Training and seconded to builder Bill Cox.

Kale Thompson – Heavy Fabrication Engineer

Formerly of Aurora College Kale enrolled in the condensed ACE pre apprenticeship engineering programme which allowed him to complete the requirements of the programme in a shorter period of time, thus allowing him to begin his apprenticeship earlier than previously would have been the case.

Southern Group Training employed Kale as an Industry Trainee for the duration of the ACE programme and placed him in full time paid work experience with different companies for four, two week periods of time.

Kale was able to earn a basic wage, which was paid out to him over the duration of programme.

All the ACE Trainees were required to complete a weekly timesheet regardless of whether they were on work experience or at the Southern Institute of Technology. Failure to produce the timesheet on time would result in a delay in the Trainee being paid.

Kale has been employed by Southern Group Training as a Heavy Fabrication apprentice seconded to J K Stevenson Ltd for the completion of his practical on job training.

Matt Hodges – Light Fabrication Engineer

A former student of Aurora College, Matt enrolled in the July 2007 ACE Engineering programme which was held over 20, instead of the usual 38, weeks at the Southern Institute of Technology.

The condensed pre apprenticeship programme allowed Matt to complete all the requirements of the programme in a shorter period of time, thus allowing him to begin his apprenticeship earlier than previously would have been the case.

Having successfully completed all the requirements of the programme Matt was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training which placed him with Marshall Industries to complete the remaining Level 3 and Level 4 practical unit standards.

The theory units are taught through off job training via weekly evening classes at the Southern Institute of Technology and require regular attendance if the apprentice is to make good steady progress towards the completion of his Level 4 National Certificate.

Nathan Smith – Apprentice Light Automotive Engineer

After completing his secondary schooling at Mount Anglem College Nathan successfully applied to undertake the automotive pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology.

During the course he did work experience one day a week which reinforced the requirements of an apprenticeship. In 2006 he was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and has been placed with Agnew Bros Garage in Edendale.

An apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain a tertiary qualification at Level 4 without needing to take on a student debt. Apprentices are paid as they learn.

Southern Group Training, as employer, pays for Nathan's annual apprentice registration fee, Training Manual, his distance learning packages, and block course fees, and pays him while he is attending his annual two week block course. Travel and accommodation costs for any block courses held outside Southland are also covered.

Ryan Harvey – Apprentice Machine & Toolmaker Engineer

After completing his secondary schooling at Mount Anglem College Ryan successfully applied to undertake the engineering pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology. At the completion of the course in late 2004 Ryan was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and has been placed on secondment with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd.

To complete the Level 4 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering Ryan must complete a range of unit standards comprising both theory and practical elements. Ryan'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.

An apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain a tertiary qualification at Level 4 without needing to take on a student debt. Apprentices are paid as they learn. Southern Group Training, as employer, pays for Ryan's Training Manual, his annual industry training fee, his evening class and block course fees, and pays him while he is attending his annual three week block course. Travel and accommodation costs for block courses held outside of Invercargill are also covered.

Tim Eade – Apprentice Plumber

Formerly a student at Aurora College Tim expressed an interest in plumbing while at school and approached Southern Group Training for additional information.

Tim was referred to the pre apprenticeship plumbing programme offered by the Southern Institute of Technology where he gained valuable skills and experience, thereby enhancing his employability as an apprentice. Southern Group Training also assisted Tim with finding relevant work experience.

Having successfully completed the pre apprenticeship programme Tim successfully applied for an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training.

While his primary host company is the Alliance Group Lorneville Tim will, over the duration of his apprenticeship, be placed with several other secondary host companies to enable him to be fully trained in all the requirements of his Level 4 National Certificate.