Apprentice one bright spark - May 2015

IN THE RUNNING: Former WHS student Jamie Newell will compete in Hamilton on May 26 to 28 for the title Master Electricians Electrical Apprentice of the Year.

Westmere's Jamie Newell score in the Master Electricians' Challenge was among the top countrywide and he is through to the national final.
He is one of 12 competitors who have reached the national finals of the contest for apprentice electricians.
The finalists were those who achieved the highest marks overall from seven regional knockout heats held throughout the country during March and April.
Twenty-one-year-old Jamie works at Q-West boat builders in Castlecliff. He won the Domestic/Commercial division of the regional competition.
Jamie is looking forward to the challenge of the final.
"I'm anxious about competing in front of a crowd. But I'm feeling confident and prepared to tackle any electrical challenge they throw at us."
The final will be held in Hamilton from May 26 to 28.
The competition, now in its 14th year, aims to find New Zealand's top electrical apprentices. There are two divisions - Domestic/Commercial and Industrial. Contestants will face two full days of tasks and challenges designed to test their skills and abilities.
Master Electricians operations manager Bernie McLaughlin said finalists will each face five workstations and have two hours to complete a range of tough tasks, designed to replicate a ‘real industry' setting and applying the latest available technology.
"The scenarios are designed to test that they can respond swiftly and efficiently to challenging tasks they may face in their working life," said Mr McLaughlin.
"The industrial category will be slanted towards programmable logic controllers, and motors and motor starters. We are introducing more technology into the domestic/commercial category - so they could be doing anything from wiring through to programming lighting controllers."
While this year's task details are under wraps, previous contestants have tackled challenges such as automating the operating system for a rock quarry conveyor belt or automating a simulated motel room with features for guest comfort, such as underfloor heating and motion sensitive lighting.
All the contestants are apprentice electricians, mostly in their final year, who are combining on-job training with off-job training. The winners in each category will win prizes and the title of Master Electricians Electrical Apprentice of the Year.