As a community, we love to highlight the achievements, successes, and stories of our people. That is why we are celebrating award-winning apprentices. Recently completed Carpentry Apprentice Mitchell Keogh was awarded the Pooley Downing Award at the Apprentice Employment Network (AEN) NSW & ACT Awards on Friday 13th October 2023. This is an annual award provided by the Co-operative Housing Societies Association of NSW. This award recognises outstanding commitment and achievements in the industry. Like Mitchell’s training employer A W Edwards, we could not be prouder.
How it started:
Mitchell has always had a passion for building, which he says was ignited when playing with Lego as a young boy. Like many in the industry, the sense of accomplishment at looking at the finished product was compelling.
How it’s going:
Fast forward a few years and Mitchell is now building the Edmondson Park North Commuter Carpark for Transport NSW. Having completed his apprenticeship with Master Builders, his Host Employer A W Edwards has now hired him as the leading Carpenter on the job.
“Out of all the apprentices we have recruited, by far Mitchell has been one of our best in recent times,” says A W Edwards Construction Manager Andrew Merchant. “He came to us through the Master Builders as a young lad in the first year of his apprenticeship. All the pre-screening and safety training was already completed. He was a great match for our business and culture. We are so proud to see how far Mitchell has come in his career and I knew we couldn’t let him go. To see him win this award meant so much to the work that we do supervising apprentices onsite”.
A W Edwards has a fantastic apprenticeship training program and embraced the idea of upskilling Mitchell with a broad range of on-site skills. The program provides him with comprehensive experience in a full suite of trades. Mitchell says,” I am so grateful for the way my apprenticeship worked out and for the skills I have been taught. I have been encouraged to keep developing my career and improving my skills. I have learned so much and do all sorts of manual work”.
For Mitchell, the very best thing about the job would have to be the friendly work environment. He says, “There is a sense of comradery. Everybody has a laugh with each other, and we are a close team. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like work, it feels like I’m hanging out with my mates. It is a positive work environment and I enjoy coming to work each morning.”
The importance of award nominations:
“By completing my Certificate III in Carpentry and my Apprenticeship, I know I made my parents proud. This was something I worked hard to achieve for four years. The support from Master Builders and A W Edwards has been great. And now I have won the Pooley Downing award for my achievements, I am excited for what my future holds”, says Mitchell.
At Master Builders, working with the industry to support our people is one of our key objectives. We support apprentices like Mitchell to achieve their career goals by working together with Host Employers. It’s important that as an industry we get behind our apprentices and put their best foot forward nominating them for these sorts of awards opportunities. Celebrating award-winning Apprentices means so much for their careers, and to their families and friends.
