Apprentice sparky to represent the Waikato
Ngaruawahia local Blair Pussel has the chance to showcase his skills and better his career at the Master Electricians Challenge next month
Electrical apprentice Blair Pussell, 21, from Ngaruawahia has made it to the finals of the Master Electricians Challenge.
As the lone representative of the Waikato, Pussell placed third out of the 10 finalists selected from 150 apprentices across the country during the regional competitions.
The Master Electricians Challenge is an opportunity for apprentices to showcase their skills and make connections in the industry.
The final competition is split into two sectors, domestic/commercial and industrial, with five finalists competing in each.
Pussell will be competing as a domestic/commercial apprentice and welcomes the opportunity to be a part of it.
“It would be great to win it but it’s just the cream on the cake for me because it’s helping me get my name out there and it’s helping me grow as a person,” Pussell says.
“I’m just really proud of my past and current employers for believing in me and the sky’s the limit really.”
Master Electricians operations manager Bernie McLaughlin, who helps coordinate the competition, thinks this is a great opportunity for apprentices and their employers.
“We are trying to show the business owners that this is personal and professional development for their apprentices,” McLaughlin says.
“Because they’re under huge time pressure to perform in the competition, it’ll only help them improve when they’re out on the job.”
Each finalist will have to complete five two hour-long modules where they will be faced with scenarios and will be judged on their ability to use the right components, health and safety, and other elements.
“The modules are based on everyday scenarios that they will all encounter when they finish their apprenticeships, so there is nothing that should surprise them,” McLaughlin says.
The overall winners from the domestic/commercial and industrial categories will receive $1250 and the winner from each individual module receives $250.
The final of the Master Electricians Challenge will be held from August 22- 25 at the College Rifles Rugby Club in Auckland.
