For as long as he can remember Gareth only ever wanted to become a plumber - following in his father's footsteps. But the recession put paid to that; despite scouring the length and breadth of the country he was unable to secure an apprenticeship.

Fortunately for him, not long after securing a short term labouring contract he had the enviable task of having to choose between two job offers - having been offered two alternative apprenticeship opportunities in two days.

He chose to accept an offer from Fulton Hogan as he saw ‘bigger opportunities
and guaranteed work' and is now working towards his Mechanical Engineering - General Engineering Level 4 qualification.

And work couldn't come on a bigger scale as he was immediately assigned to work on the NGA Newmarket project constructing the Newmarket (viaduct) Connection.

Just four weeks before Christmas he reported to NGA Newmarket's Plant Supervisor Peter Telfer who he now ‘shadows' on a daily basis. Not that Peter would have it any other way - ‘he's super keen to pass his knowledge on to younger blood'.

Every day is different for Gareth and he is never sure what awaits him, but his enthusiasm for the job and learning shines through.

Although Gareth works under supervision, Peter has told his colleagues on site that if they are doing a job and Gareth can learn from them, ‘let him join in'.

By doing so he's racking up his skills, having learned and completed welding; how to set up hydraulic pumps for rams and hoses; testing, repairing and tagging electrical items and reading plans.

"Gareth now signs off all electrical tags as he's deemed to be competent," explained Peter.

"We're flat out on this job and I can't nurse maid him. He knows to ask me, and others, if he doesn't understand anything and I'll take the time to make sure he does understand.

"If I show him what to do and he says he's OK, I know I can leave him alone.

"One of the bigger jobs he's been assigned to and can now master is to strip down a gear box, which has meant starting from the beginning by pulling it apart; determining parts for replacement; ordering and fitting them and then testing to ensure smooth functioning."

A typical day would see Gareth checking all the machinery ensuring all fluids are topped up and complete, then move into repairing and tagging any electrical items.

At the moment crews work on a 24/7 basis, with all concrete segments being erected at night. This means Peter receives a maintenance list each morning from which he assigns tasks to Gareth. "He gets through most of the tasks by the end of the day," says Peter.

So far Gareth says he's really enjoying the job and having fun.

"Because the project is so big, there's a lot of variety. I've also got flexibility on deciding what tasks to do which is not always available if you're working in a workshop," says Gareth.

His days are long leaving his Mahurangi home at five o'clock in the morning to start work around 6.00am. His hard hat comes off around 5.30pm and then he readies himself for the long haul home. Mondays are extra long as he stops at Northcote College for nearly three hours of night school.

Competenz Account Manager Bevan Prince, who oversees Gareth's apprenticeship, says ‘he's a bright young thing!'

"He's exceptionally keen to do everything and has almost completed his first year on-job training in just four months.

"He's a young guy that will really go places because of his commitment, focus and enthusiasm, and to land a job working on the Newmarket project - at 19 - is fantastic.

"He's a role model for other young guys who perhaps don't know what career path to follow."
According to Gareth there's a variety of basic skills one should have in order to become an engineer, including ‘a good dollop of common sense; practical thinking and practical hand skills, not afraid to get dirty and not afraid of physical heights.'

Climbing the tall blue mass of scaffolding and gantries alongside the existing Newmarket motorway doesn't faze him at all - it's a daily occurrence.

Gareth is a young man on a mission with clearly defined goals and his future mapped out. He's confident his apprenticeship will be completed to coincide with the completion of the Newmarket Connection project scheduled for 2012.

After that he would like to use his engineering qualification and skills acquired on this project to travel the world. But New Zealand will always be home.

The Newmarket Connection project is being delivered for the New Zealand Transport Authority by NGA Newmarket - the second generation of the alliance that successfully delivered the Northern Gateway project, (Waiwera tunnel) on budget and ahead
of schedule.

After 20 years of directing television documentaries he's now at the controls of Veolia Transport's Auckland locomotives - and couldn't be happier.

The inspiration to change careers came after being urged by his brother - a real train enthusiast - to go for a cab ride with a train driver friend, and then worked on a Competenz funded piece for a television programme about careers in the rail industry.

Along with 700-800 other applicants, John participated in an in-depth recruitment process involving aptitude and ability testing. Once shortlisted, he also partook in a comprehensive interview and full medical, and was delighted to be accepted as a trainee driver.

Veolia Transport requires no specific experience or qualifications in its drivers, but being practically minded and handling pressure well are advantageous. In its applicants, Veolia seeks out communication, customer service, problem solving and other practical abilities, such as mechanical aptitude.

John's 10 month training period was comprised of 17 weeks in the classroom doing ‘lots of theory'; six weeks mechanical training; four weeks accompanying senior drivers - ‘to get a taste of the network' - and then 250 hours one-on-one driver training, where he was at the controls with a qualified ‘minder' driver guiding him.

Before he was signed off as a fully-fledged Locomotive Engineer - Suburban (LE-S), John had to complete 50 supervised trips spread over the Southern, Eastern and Western lines - from Pukekohe in the south to Waitakere in the northwest.

John says that despite sitting over 31 hours of exams when studying for his BA from 1974 to 1979, the rail exams weren't easy - in fact, some were hard to pass. He found the training demanding, and knowing he had to achieve an 80% pass on all his exams meant even more pressure.

"Driving is far more complex than meets the eye. There's a real knack to braking and stopping - to stop smoothly and accurately without jerking - and getting the doors to meet the different lengths of platforms so passengers can alight or disembark comfortably," says John.

"Looking in from the outside it seems very simple, but there are hundreds of rules and regulations to remember. And once we are out on the tracks driving, we're being taught from three or four different drivers and each one has their own style. Eventually you end up with your own style!

"The signalling system was one of the hardest things to grasp as every signal carries a message, but I eventually got it. We have to know all the speeds and speed limitations on every stretch of track; we receive daily bulletins advising us of track changes and speed restrictions."

To assist him in memorising the signal colour combinations and their meanings, John created a set of visuals to resemble every signal he would encounter as he was driving up the track. "The visuals made learning the combinations so much easier," says John.

According to John there's a variety of skills one needs to handle the job well, including the determination to succeed, the ability to concentrate and multitask, and being mechanically minded is advantageous.

The job is challenging and John says there is the potential for things to become quite dangerous on any stretch of the track. He is astounded at what he sees along the tracks and by some people's behaviour, and believes the public need to be better educated about the dangers of being around tracks and trains. His biggest fear is breaking down, and not being able to get the train and passengers to a platform.

If he'd had to script his own career he never thought he'd be in the rail industry - surprising considering he comes from three generations of rail employees and was the first generation in his family NOT to work on the railway.

"I thought I'd still be making documentaries and making a lot of money - but neither happened. I am happier and healthier - and more solvent - than I've been in years. It's good to be in a growth industry - for rail, it's time has come again," John says.

"I've started taking the train instead of using the car - it's so enjoyable and convenient. The industry is really growing with more and more people returning to the trains."

Naturally the job entails shift work and John does about 80 hours per fortnight - with no shift being more than 9.5 hours. He thinks drivers are well rewarded and well respected by the company and he highly recommends Veolia Transport as an employer.

There's great team work amongst the drivers, Train Managers and Passenger Operators and as a driver, John says he relies on the other onboard staff for a lot of information to ensure smooth operations. In an emergency situation team work comes to the fore.

His advice to others contemplating a career change is to take a look at your hobbies as they can be useful in determining a career or getting a job and not to be afraid to make a change.

For many years John's hobby was motor racing - building and racing cars - and he's a self taught mechanic. He believes that interest and those skills are now serving him well.

Upon successful completion of his training, John was given a large brass key which will start any of the DMUs (diesel multiple units) in Veolia's fleet but it is also the key to his new and exciting career.

If you want more information on NZQA rail qualifications contact the Competenz Customer Support centre on 0800 526 1800.

Two major Taranaki based companies are enjoying successful returns on their investments in employee training pathways.

Employee morale at Tegel NZ's New Plymouth plant couldn't be better especially when they know they are working for an organisation that invests in and values its employees.

That's exactly what Tegel does - invests in its people by providing a clear training pathway for their future which in turn allows them to develop and grow as individuals.

As a result there's a noticeable positive change towards training throughout the organisation with many more employees wanting to upskill. So far this year 40 employees have been presented with their National Certificate in Level 1 Food and Related Products Processing (FRPP) qualification.

According to Competenz Account Manager Jo Bourke, who looks after Tegel's training needs, the two organisations have been working together on a smarter method of delivery for the FRPP Level 2 qualification which will be rolled out later this month.

"We've hosted two very successful graduation ceremonies at Tegel - 22 people graduated in January and another 18 graduated last month. Everyone is very happy with their progress," said Jo.

"The learner's workbooks cover a majority of the unit standards required to achieve the qualification, including all fundamental aspects of Food Safety, Health & Safety and Quality Management, while incorporating Tegel's own work place practices.

"The resources have been tailored to the customer's needs and can be achieved on the job."

Tegel is New Zealand's market-leading, fully integrated poultry producer and employs around 1,550 people across New Zealand.

Meanwhile neighbouring company ITOHam has also celebrated successful training outcomes.

In April they presented 18 employees with their National Certificate in Level 2 Food and Related Products Processing (FRPP) and four employees with their First Line Management (FLM) qualifications.

According to Jo, ITOHam was really pleased with the training outcomes as they felt it added value to their business.

"Skills4Work delivered the training through a combination of job assessments and classroom style presentations, which worked really well for ITOHam," said Jo.

ITOHam's General Manager Gus Crawford agreed, saying he's extremely satisfied with the success of the training, particularly as it was tailor-made to meet the needs of ITOHam's small goods processing plant.

"Overall the training has made the employees question what they are doing and why and not just carry out instructions. They have a better understanding and are more aware of what is going on around them.

"For many it was a first time qualification and their positive feedback is increasing the demand for further training for their colleagues," says Gus.

"While there are obvious benefits for the company there are benefits for the learners; I'm very happy if they can better themselves through the training we offer. We encourage them to seize opportunities."

Gus says ITOHam will offer Level 2 FRPP training to more employees in the future, and are also looking to offer Level 3 FRPP to interested employees.

If you want more information on FRPP qualifications contact your Competenz Account Manager or call our Customer Service Centre on 0800 526 1800.

As one of the world's leading nutrition, health and wellness companies, Nestle New Zealand Ltd is equally committed to improving the welfare of its employees as it is to its products.

This was apparent recently when almost 200 employees were presented with certificates honouring their successful completion of the Level 2 Food and Related Products Processing (FRPP) qualification.

For many graduates it was the first time they had participated in any formal training programme, let alone pass a qualification and to ensure each graduate was recognised, a special team at Nestle coordinated a full day of four individual ceremonies that enabled all shift workers to attend.

Congratulating one group of proud grads, Nestlé's Cambria Park Factory Manager Paul Steinkemp said the purpose of holding graduation ceremonies was to make the day ‘unique and different' for them.

"We recognise your hard work and efforts over the past 12 months - we're extremely proud of you all. You started just over a year ago on your training, and at the same time you have embraced NCE - Nestle Continuous Excellence - a programme introduced nine months ago.

"We also thank Competenz - without their support you wouldn't have your NZQA certificate."

Competenz Account Manager Simon Williams concurs with Paul's comments.

"Nestle is really committed to training and upskilling its employees. Many of the trainees are now looking to complete their Level 3 qualification," says Simon.

Special guest former Silver Fern player and Fijian born, Vilimaina (Vili) Davu presented the certificates and likened their individual achievements to her contribution as a Silver Fern and the overall success of the team.

"While you work as an individual it is important to work together, to support and help your team achieve their goals. You have all achieved that - congratulations." she said.

For first time grad Violet Healey, receiving her certificate was a ‘big thrill.'

"This is the first qualification I have ever received - and look how long it's taken me!" said a delighted Violet. A committed Nestle employee of 24 years, Violet currently works on the Maggi product line and despite confessing to be 75 years young, she ‘loves' being at work.

"Work keeps me young, healthy and mentally alert. I'm a fitness fanatic - I play tennis and swim - my doctor tells me to keep working because I'm a fit person and besides, I don't want my mind to go just because I stop work!

"I loved doing the training and I learn by concentrating on my job and listening to what my supervisor asks me to do. I don't do computer or book work, but everything else - I'm very good at. I'm thrilled and very proud."

With five children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Violet does have an ‘end' in sight - she plans to retire when she reaches the 25 year milestone at Nestle in January 2011.

There's no end on the horizon for confectionary line worker Mac (Macca) Edwards who has been with Nestle just three short years.

Now with his Level 2 FRPP certificate firmly in hand, Mac knows he wants to continue learning and training at Nestle and has his sights set firmly on advancing to management level.

"Nestle is a very good company to work for - it's all about progress. I really enjoyed doing the qualification and our tutor made the training relevant to our jobs.

"We made great progress - it's all about team work. Nestle is really supportive and I know I can continue to learn and build up to where I want to be with management skills," said Mac.

Although Mac had spent the previous 18 years working as a truck driver - and doing a good job - he knew there was ‘nothing in it' for him. Stability, security and building a future are now his main goals.

Learning is not new to him - he's NZQA Te Reo qualified; he has a certificate in Human Resources, specialising in mentoring, and a certificate in Financial Management.

With people like Violet and Mac, Nestle knows the key to the Company's future is not only its quality products but its quality employees.