On Tuesday 10th November, current and recently completed ETCO apprentices featured highly at the WEACT Awards, (Waikato Electrical Apprenticeship Charitable Trust), recognising excellence and achievement in electrical training.

About 100 people attended the evening held at the Waikato Stadium. Richard Watt from WEL Networks spoke on training developments within the industry.

Out of a possible 17 nominated candidates there was the chance of winning 6 Diligence awards, 1 Scholarship Award, and 1 Electrical Apprentice of the Year award.

The following ETCO Apprentices did themselves and ETCO proud by receiving all but one of the awards!

* Stuart Archer: Scholarship Award – sponsored by one of our Host Companies, Concord Technologies.

* Ben Baker: Diligence Award

* Gary Carleton: (ETCO Apprentice of the year finalist 2008) – Diligence Award

* Scott George: Diligence Award

* Chase Herbert: Diligence Award

* Darryl Hockly: Diligence Award

ETCO student Hayden Cox received the remaining Diligence Award.

I’m sure we all join in together in congratulating these guys, their diligence and dedication has been recognised, well done!

A big thank you to ETCO Staff and tutors Eddie, Tanya, Rex, and Craig for their time and experience they have put into these apprentices as they had a significant role in the success of these guys. A special mention for Rex at this time for “shaping” most of these lads at Level 4 night classes, your tutoring is respected and appreciated by many in the industry, thank you.

There was good support for our lads with family, friends, and host companies coming as far as Rotorua and Putaruru. Their support is greatly appreciated and it is good to celebrate these apprentices success together.