Drawing a future: Competenz study groups bring technical skills to life for apprentices

Drawing is more than lines on paper — it’s a language of its own, says drawing expert and facilitator Rod Horton, who leads Competenz national study group helping apprentices master the art of technical sketching. “Drawings are universal,” Horton explains. “You can walk into a workshop anywhere in the world and the same drawing symbols and conventions are understood. It’s the language engineers speak.”

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The Drawing Study Group is one of several highly successful Competenz initiatives designed to support apprentices in areas where they need extra help to achieve their qualifications.

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From literacy and numeracy support for neurodiverse tradespeople to mentoring for Māori and Pasifika apprentices who may face language or confidence barriers, these study groups have become a cornerstone of Competenz learner support model — creating safe, interactive spaces where apprentices can build both technical skill and confidence.

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For Culverden    engineering fabrication apprentice Zak Hill, who works at Dix Engineering and is completing his New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Fabrication, that support has been transformational. “I honestly don’t think I would’ve achieved some unit standards without it,” he says. “It’s not just watching a video — you’re part of a conversation. You can ask questions, see other apprentices’ work, and learn step by step.”

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The Drawing Study Groups use advanced, zoom-enabled cameras to demonstrate every detail of their work, providing a classroom-quality learning experience. Each drawing session runs for two hours with up to 40 apprentices joining a busy session from a pool of around 250 invited learners. Unlike some of the other study groups, these sessions are entirely drop-in, allowing apprentices to participate as their schedules allow and needs demand.

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The fortnightly sessions, held via Zoom and guided by Horton and Competenz facilitator Roy Adams, combine live sketching, pattern development and interpretation of technical plans. Breakout rooms allow for one-on-one mentoring, and 3D printed parts is often used to show how two-dimensional drawings come to life as physical components — reinforcing the link between theory and practice.

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The move to an online format has been a game changer for rural apprentices who previously faced barriers to accessing training. Learners can now join sessions from anywhere in the country and connect with experienced facilitators. — without the need for lengthy travel. Hill’s employer recalls having to travel from rural Canterbury to Christchurch for night classes  during his own apprenticeship — a time-consuming and costly exercise that today’s learners no longer face.

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The group’s success reflects years of evolution and leadership from Competenz training advisor John Nortman, who established the first drawing study group in 2020. Initially born out of necessity during COVID-19 lockdowns, the format quickly became a permanent part of the Competenz learner support model. Study groups have since expanded across disciplines — from fire protection and refrigeration to plastics and fabrication — with more than 1,000 learners nationwide now taking part each year.

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Adams, who draws on his previous experience as an employer, says his focus is always on creating value for both apprentices and the businesses investing in them. “In the back of my mind I’m thinking, how can I get this information into the learner so they’re more useful to their employer?” he says. “If the learner can’t use the skills, it’s money lost — so we want to make sure there’s a real return on investment for the employer too.”

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A former Air Force engineer, Horton blends technical precision with humour and creativity, often sketching quick cartoons on the whiteboard to explain complex spatial concepts. “It keeps it fun — and it keeps them learning,” he says.

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Each drawing study group attracts a mix of apprentices at different stages, and the live format ensures sessions are dynamic and responsive to learner needs. Apprentices learn how to apply drawing principles in real workshop contexts — developing and reading patterns, interpreting blueprints, and understanding measurements and tolerances.

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For Horton, the goal is both practical and aspirational. “If you can read and understand drawings, you can work anywhere,” he says. “It’s one of the most valuable skills an engineer can have.”

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For Zak Hill, that lesson has become part of his future. “I’ve come to really love what I do — working on all the agricultural gear, diggers and trucks,” he says. “I see myself continuing down that path but focusing more on the big machinery. Making and modifying parts means drawing will always be part of it — you have to be able to sketch things out to work out what you’re building, what it connects to, and how it all fits together.”

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From its beginnings in 2019 as a small Canterbury-based study group to today’s nationwide network of interactive online sessions, Competenz has redefined how apprentices learn and connect. In doing so, it has set a new benchmark for accessible, inclusive, and future-focused industry training — one that continues to evolve alongside the needs of apprentices and employers alike.

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