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Craig Homes Development apprentice Josiah Grieg heads for the National Challenge after winning Saturday’s Manawatū event.
The annual New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Apprentice Challenge pressured local Manawatū learners in the annual challenge over the weekend.
Held at the UCol Trades Campus in Palmerston North on Saturday, participants had eight hours to complete a project given to them a week before the event.
This year’s challenge was a children’s playhouse/fort.
Craig Whitton, president of NZCB Manawatū, said concentration was high for the participants who were not used to building with people watching them.
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At the end of the day, Whitton said the students enjoyed the competition and it was a positive experience for all of them.
“We sort of praised them and their bosses and said it was great to see your employers get you to the point where you can do construction work and run a project with virtually no help at all,” Whitton said.
Warwick Smith/Stuff
Josiah Grieg gets to work on the playhouse during the weekend event in Ucol.
This is a skill that NZCB aims to teach all young newcomers coming through.
Saturday’s league champion Josiah Greig of Craig Homes Development said it was a cool opportunity to show himself there.
“Normally you work alone, so you don’t really compare yourself to others,” Greig said.
He said there were some old guys at the game who had been building for over 50 years, and it was cool to get their feedback.
The third year student has always been up for a challenge and thought the idea of a special student competition was “great”.
Looking back, Greig said he probably prepared differently now, but it all went well and he was looking forward to going to the National Challenge.
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Student Kaylam Smith also took part in the challenge this weekend and came second.
For Craig Homes Development, it was the first time students had entered the challenge, with Greig taking first place and Kaylam Smith taking second.
BJ Craig, owner of Craig Homes Development, said it was great to see their pupils recognized at a higher level.
“I couldn’t be more proud, and it sort of emphasizes that the way we train our guys is right,” said Craig.
One of the biggest things Craig had seen from Greig in retrospect was a boost in confidence.
After testing himself in a high-pressure environment and coming out on top, it had given Greig an appreciation for his own abilities.
The judges looked at the correct dimensions, quality of finish and assembly, cleanliness of the work area and compliance with health and safety.
The event was one of 20 NZBC regional challenges held on Saturday, with all winners going to Christchurch to compete in the national challenge on May 26 and 27.
Greig would have an all-expenses paid trip to the event.