It’s been just over a year since we welcomed 10 new recruits into our revamped apprentice training programme. In that time, they’ve logged nearly six times the number of training days, and have crossed the ditch twice to learn from dedicated apprentice trainers at Hastings Deering’s cutting-edge Brisbane facility.
The four-year programme was restructured to ensure we’re retaining and motivating our apprentices – as well as equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to best support our branches and customers. We caught up with three of the now-second-year apprentices to learn what drew them to the programme, and how they’ve found things so far.
For Caleb Childs from Auckland, an apprenticeship with Terra felt like the obvious choice. He’d grown up in his dad’s workshop surrounded by cars, and knew he wanted to work on “anything with an engine”.
“Everything you could want in an apprenticeship, I felt like it was offered here,” Caleb said. “The training in Australia really stuck out – but here it also feels like there’s support the whole way through. You’re not learning on your own.”
Palmerston North apprentice Thomas Clements has a similar story. Raised on a drystock farm along the edge of the Ruahine Ranges, tractors and excavators were part of his daily life.
“I got to learn how to operate some big machinery and thought it’d be awesome to get my hands dirty working on them,” said Tom. “Through school I figured I wanted to do something mechanic-based and decided on a pre-trade here. I really enjoyed it.”
Wellington apprentice Hugo Weatherley says work experience at his local branch sold him on the four-year programme: “When I got into the apprenticeship, I was stoked,” Hugo said. “I found it a great place to work and all the guys here are pretty cool.”
For all three, the range of Cat equipment available to train on—here and in Brisbane—was a major appeal.
“Being able to work with lots of different machines, both new ones and the older ones too, you learn quite a bit,” Hugo said.
Tom said he’s also enjoyed the variety of jobs: “I’ve completed rebuilds of a couple types of hydraulic cylinders, resealed an engine, and fixed the hydraulic coupler on a roller, which was quite an experience for a first job".
Overall, though, the three say their time in Australia ranks as the highlight of their first year. After a two-week introductory visit, the group returned for a five-and-a-half-week stint to cover electrical, hydraulics, undercarriage and servicing.
“The training facilities, they were very high tech,” said Caleb. “And every one of the trainers knew their stuff. It was really specialised.”
There was lots to take in, but Hugo said: “you just had to be switched on and not afraid to ask questions”.
The apprentices will be heading back to Hastings Deering twice a year for the next two years, before reconnecting back into our technical training programme in their final year.
