Hannah's a good spark

Our Allied Trades team are celebrating their 50th Electrical apprenticeship, with Hannah Drew completing the requirements for the New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4) qualification.

The managed apprenticeship programme began in 2018, and combines off-job and on-job learning with local industry.  At the time it was set up, Otago Polytechnic was the only polytech in the country managing everything from start to finish.

Steve Brook, Senior Lecturer in Electrical, says hitting 50 apprentices is a great milestone. He enjoys seeing ākonga like Hannah develop their skills and hone their craft as they settle into careers in the industry.

(L-R: Christine Hughes (Allied Trades Administrator), Mark Preston (Managing Director, Adams Plumbing, Drainage, Electrical and Gas Fitting), Hannah Drew (Otago Polytechnic student), Steve Brook, (Senior Lecturer, Electrical), Francesca Brown (Head of College), and David Bettis (Head of Programme))

Steve was one of four Otago Polytechnic representatives to celebrate with Hannah, when she was awarded her certificate at longtime workplace, Adams Plumbing, Drainage, Electrical and Gas Fitting in Kaikorai Valley.

Hannah began her studies in November 2021 straight out of school, and says she's proud to be the second female to complete the process and become a qualified electrician.

"It feels pretty good to be honest. It's been a long while."

"It is still a bit of a blokey industry, but Adams is really good. We've got a few females now which is quite nice."

"The management here are great, the work is awesome, and I can have variety which is quite nice."

Mark Preston, Managing Director of Adams, says he can rely on a strong quality of apprenctices through the Otago Polytechnic-partnered programme, and praised the ongoing work by Steve and his team.

"They train the apprentices really well, and Hannah is a classic example of a well-trained great young lady who has really grown and taken lots of responsibility of her work and through her apprenticeship."

"And now she's blossomed into a fantastic young tradesperson. She's running her own projects now, and is doing a great job. And everyone at Adams is really proud of her."