For Connor Crowe, an apprenticeship is a milestone, not a finish line

When Connor Crowe completed his New Zealand Apprenticeship in Plastics Engineering (Level 4) with strands in Injection Moulding in January, he could have considered his training complete. His trade qualification marked an important milestone in his career – but for Connor and his employer, it was never intended to be a finish line.
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Instead, the West Auckland graduate enrolled straight into the New Zealand Certificate in Business (Introduction to Team Leadership)(Level 3) - also delivered through industry training organisation Competenz.
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Connor completed his plastics apprenticeship through Competenz while working at Auckland-based IFP Group to build his technical skills and career pathway.

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Competenz Training Advisor Jonathan Newsome says Connor’s progression reflects a growing shift across industry.
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“An apprenticeship builds strong technical capability, but more employers are encouraging learners to keep developing beyond their trade qualification. Leadership programmes provide a natural next step -helping tradespeople build communication, decision-making and team skills alongside their technical expertise.”
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The 22 year old says, “I’ve always wanted to keep progressing. It’s easy to stay comfortable once you’ve qualified, but I don’t want to stand still.”
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Connor left school in Year 11 and worked at a local supermarket through COVID. An opportunity at IFP Group came through a family connection - but it was his mechanical aptitude, developed from working on cars in his spare time, that made the apprenticeship a natural fit.

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“I always wanted to get into a trade,” he says. “I just didn’t really know how to get my foot in the door.”
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At the time, he was about to be offered a team leadership role at New World - a promotion that recognised his reliability and work ethic.
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“I was about to step into a team leader position,” he says. “It was a good opportunity. But long-term I wanted to build something more technical. The apprenticeship felt like a better move for my future.”
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That decision has come full circle.
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Today, Connor works on injection moulding lines producing everyday items most New Zealanders would recognise - yoghurt pottles and food-grade pails commonly found in supermarkets - as well as specialist components for the building sector that sit beneath concrete foundations and support piping systems.
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Much of IFP Group’s capability lies in its in-mould labelling technology - a robotic process where artwork is placed inside the mould and fused into the plastic during production. The result looks like a sticker, but it becomes part of the product itself, resistant to heat, wear and handling.
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For a young apprentice walking into that environment for the first time, it was daunting.
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“There are alarms, robotics and big machines; it was a very new environment for me,” Connor says. “You have to accept you’ll make mistakes. The key is not making the same mistake twice.”
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Jonathan says Connor showed strong potential early in his apprenticeship.
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“Connor stood out because of his attitude and consistency. He was reliable, open to feedback and genuinely committed to developing his skills. He didn’t just focus on completing his qualification; he focused on becoming better at his trade.”
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Connor progressed quickly through his Level 4apprenticeship with support from Technical Moulding Manager Tiaan Ferreira – a former Competenz plastics apprentice who moved to New Zealand from South Africa.
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For Tiaan, technical competence is only part of the equation.
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“The qualification gives you the trade skills,” he says. “The leadership training builds how you think, handle pressure and support others. That’s where long-term value sits.”

Now Connor is gaining structured training in communication, team dynamics and workplace performance - skills that complement his trade expertise.
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IFP Group actively encourages progression beyond apprenticeship completion. Tiaan has supported multiple apprentices through their qualifications and sees continued training as essential to succession planning and retention.
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“If you don’t invest in young people and show them a path way, they’ll go somewhere else,” he says. “When we back them, they back us. The business gets capability, loyalty and future leaders.”
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Connor’s next goal is to move into either a technical management role or plastics sales, combining his practical experience with leadership capability.
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“We see Connor stepping into a technical team leader role in the not too distant future,” says Tiaan. “He’s got the trade capability, and now he’s building the leadership skills to match.”
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“I still enjoy being hands-on,” Connor adds. “But I want to understand the bigger picture – how teams work, how decisions get made, how we grow.”
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Jonathan says IFP Group’s commitment to training has been a key part of Connor’s journey.
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“They’ve built a strong training culture,” he says. “Connor progressed from Level 3 plastics processing through to Level 4injection moulding and now into leadership training. It’s rewarding to see that circle continue.”
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Jonathan also acknowledges the expertise contributed by Competenz plastics specialist Luke Van de Bos.
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“Luke’s industry knowledge helped connect Connor’s assessments directly to the work he was doing at IFP, which adds real depth to the learning process.”
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Jonathan adds that this kind of collaboration reflects the practical approach to industry training at Competenz. “We have a ‘team-up and-make-it-happen’ culture.”
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Connor and Tiaan are strong advocates for trades training and recently shared their experiences on a panel at an industry training event.

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For Connor, finishing his apprenticeship was never the end.

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“Once you qualify, you’ve got to ask yourself - what’s next?”