Entry

 

How to enter

Entries closed on the 20 May 2019. (Entries for 2020 will open in April 2020).

Entry is open to any carpentry apprentice, regardless of their training provider i.e. you don't have to be a BCITO apprentice.

Check out our quick entry guide here and read all about entering here.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for alerts regarding entries opening and closing and more!

The information below will be updated in 2020 for the new competition.

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WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ENTER IN 2019?

Please read the terms and conditions to confirm your eligibility which include:

• 30 years old or younger on 31 December 2019 and therefore born after 1 January 1989.
   
• Currently employed by, or contracted to a building firm or a builder at the time of the regional competition being judged.
   
• You may only enter the competition a maximum of two times, provided you are not a national winner the prior year - in which case you may not enter again.

You'll also need to have:

Completed at least two years of your National Certificate in Carpentry on-site by Monday 20 May 2019 (or have finished your apprenticeship no more than eight months before applications close i.e. not before 20 September 2018).

Note that you do not need to be working for a Registered Master Builder to enter. The competition is open to any carpentry apprentice, regardless of their training provider i.e. you don't have to be a BCITO apprentice.

 

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Get prepared
 

The entry form for the Apprentice of the Year is made up of the following things:

• Personal information section - this is where you tell us who you are and where you're from and give us some contact info so we can get in touch
   
• Employer information section - this is just some information about who you're working for and contact information for them
   
• Apprenticeship information section -  we also need a few details about your employer and your training provider
   
• So Apprentice - Why You? section - this is where you tell us in a few words (only 120 or so) why you think you've got what it takes to be the Registered Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year 2019
   
• Project Details section - this is where you submit details of a project you are currently working on or have completed while you were training (you can upload online or post to your local RMBA Regional Branch Manager in hard copy). There are two examples below.
   
• Employer Reference -  all you need to do here is ask your employer nicely to send us a letter telling us a few things about you (view a template for the Employer reference)
   
• Education and Training Advisors Reference - the same as for your employer, but this time from your Training Advisor (view the template for TA reference)
   
• Declaration section - just a tick in a box from you!

And that's it, you can kick back and relax until entries close on 20th May 2019.
You can view samples of the Entry Form and answers from winning apprentices below.

Consult our tips for apprentices to ready yourself in case you make the cut: After entries close we'll be in touch to arrange the next stage of the competition, which - is a 2 hour practical challenge.

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Completed 'My Project' examples

If you'd like to see some winning examples of the building project section of the entry then just click on the links below.

Corbin Mills - RMBA CARTERS 2018 Apprentice of the Year 2nd place winner in  the national competiton, and Regional winner in the Central North Island.

Peter Ravn - RMBA CARTERS 2018 Apprentice of the Year National Winner and winner of the Central South Island Region.  

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how is your entry judged?

From here the judging process begins, and is made up of the following stages.

STAGE 1 

 

Written Application
1 April - 20 May 2019
100 points

It all starts here - points are allocated for the quality of your initial entry, so take your time with it. Get your entry finished before 20th May 2019.

 

Practical Challenge

22 June (time tbc in the morning)

100 points

Complete a two hour practical challenge at selected CARTERS in your local area on Saturday 22 June. The locations will be decided based on entrant numbers in the area.

*Details will be forwarded to all entrants in the week of 11 June by the regional branch AOY coordinator. Apprentices MUST report to their designated CARTERS store on time or will be out of the competition so we recommend you arrive early.

STAGE 2 

From all the entries in Stage 1, a maximum of ten will be shortlisted to progress to Stage 2 of the competition which will include an interview and a site visit. 

The judging panel is made up of a regional representative from  Registered Master Builders, BCITO and CARTERS.

Interview (100 points)

This may be carried out the same day as the site visit or an alternative date which will be confirmed with you.

Site visit (100 points)

Entrants  will be visited onsite by the judging panel to discuss the project and their personal contribution to it.

It is to your advantage to link your site visit to your submission - complete builds are fine. Also note your tool kit will be assessed at the site visits and contribute towards your points.

Regional Results August and September 2019

Regional winners and placegetters are announced at award events in your region during August and September.

The 10 regional winners then compete for the Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year in Association with CARTERS - title.

National Final 7-8 November 2019

National judging takes place over two days on 7-8 November 2019 and includes a 45-minute interview with the national judging panel and a practical skills test at Build Auckland (trade show). We will pay for all your transport there.
The practical skills test is open to the public on the morning of Friday 8th November at ASB Showgrounds.