Hunter & Craig

Andrew Smith (aka Smithy), project manager of Hunter & Craig Architectural & Building in Cromwell, recently made the switch to Builders Academy. His decision to train with us was influenced by a trusted relationship: Alex Bartrum, the local Workplace Apprenticeship Educator (WAE) for Builders Academy in Otago was one of Smithy’s previous training advisors. And a plumber for him back in the day too, it turns out!

The additional support we offer is helping Hunter & Craig’s apprentice Niels already, and shortly, will benefit Smithy and his foremen Don & Karl too.

“Alex helps me bring in a bit more knowledge into the business. Two of the other foremen and myself are going to do the Site Supervisor course shortly and it's great to know that Builders Academy can help us upskill, while also keeping our apprentice Niels ticking along nicely,” says Smithy.

This support will be highly valuable as Hunter & Craig tackle their current project of building six apartments. Smithy notes that the apartment job is an ideal way for Niels to progress, joking that it gives him the chance to do each part of the building process six times back-to-back.

“Niels is lucky, because he's got a foreman on-site who's really good at explaining how to do things and then has Alex to support him with the bookwork and other aspects of his apprenticeship, ” says Smithy. We continue to make strides across the South Island, and our guaranteed service promise of on-site visits every six to eight weeks is proving to be successful. These frequent visits are boosting apprentices' progress and provide bosses with essential training support.

“An apprentice’s learning will change with the service that we're providing, “Alex says. “That quicker turnaround, instead of a four-month period, keeps the pace up for the apprentice because we’re back on-site, checking in every six weeks or so.”

About Hunter and Craig

Hunter & Craig is an architectural design and building company based in Cromwell, Central Otago, that designs for clients from around New Zealand and builds stunning homes in Cromwell, Wanaka, Alexandra, Bannockburn and Arrowtown.

https://www.hunterandcraig.co.nz/