2 minute read
President’s Report
PRESIDENt gRACIEtE FERREIRA
reCognising exCellenCe in ConstruCtion
On Friday 28 April, I had the great pleasure in opening the MBA Group Training Apprentice Awards for 2017. Once again MBA apprentices proved why MBA Group Training is the most sought after training organisation to undertake an apprenticeship.
Congratulations must go to all of the apprentices, the winners, their trainers and host employers. The contribution and dedication of all involved ensures our industry is supplied with a stock of new construction workers dedicated to quality and excellence in workmanship, customer service and business management.
In particular I would like to congratulate Luke Wainman for taking out the 2017 Apprentice of the Year, One M Group for winning the 2017 Host Employer of the year, and McClinton Constructions for winning 2017 Employer of the Year. The MBA is also very grateful of the support from our host employers, especially A J Ewer, AMS Hyraulics, Erincole Building Services, One M Group and Your Craftsmen, who were all recognised on the night for consistently hosting MBA Group Training apprentices for 10 years. In January the 2017 intake of apprentices commenced their first day of training with the MBA. As I reported in the last Canberra Building News, the demand for young people wanting to undertake a MBA apprenticeship is increasing. We have welcomed 35 new apprentices this year, and this number is climbing. I am also excited to report that progress is being made with the ACT Government on long overdue reforms to the building regulatory system. Amongst the 43 recommendations announced by Minister Gentleman in 2016, of the most important improvements are in the changes to the builders licensing system and the introduction of professional development training. These reforms will ensure that the builder’s license eventually gained by our graduating apprentices will give clients and home owner’s piece of mind that ACT licensed builders will deliver a quality result. Ongoing professional development training will ensure that the skills gained during an apprenticeship will be maintained and keep to-to-date with contemporary issues in our industry.
On Friday 12 May I also had the pleasure in attending the Civil Contractors Federation of the ACT Earth Awards. The CCF Earth Awards recognise the best of our local civil construction sector. Winners of the Earth Awards progress to the MBA Excellence in
Building Awards and then compete at national level. This year’s Earth Awards marked a milestone 25 years of awards in the ACT.
Congratulations go to Complex Civil, Acclaim Contractors, Guideline ACT, and Huon Contractors who all won gongs at the 2017 awards.
And finally, while we are talking about awards season, I would like to wish all of the entrants in the 2017 Master Builders and CHC Excellence in Building Awards the best of luck. These awards will be held on Friday 30 June 2017 at the National Canberra Convention centre, Canberra.
