PrintNZ Chief Executive Ruth Cobb has announced that the prestigious 2024 BJ Ball Print Apprentice of the Year is to be contested by six final candidates.
“Following the initial announcement of a Top 10, our usual practice is to whittle down to a Top 5, but judges simply could not lose one of this final six,” says Ms Cobb. “By making the Top 6, each of these candidates are therefore also Apprentices of the Year in their particular process, which is a huge testament to their skills and application. Any one of them will be a deserved winner of the overall award and we look forward to seeing them on stage at this year’s Pride In Print Awards, being hosted at Auckland’s The Cordis Hotel on Friday July 4.”
The Top 6 are:
- Binding and Finishing – Jessia Moore of Imagine If Creative Studios
- Gravure Printing – Eligh Arthur of Gravure Packaging
- Labels – Faamao (Paul) Müller of Wedderburn New Zealand
- Packaging – Toese Fauatea of Opal Packaging NZ, Cartons
- Reelfed Printing – Bradley Smith of Transcontinental NZ
- Sheetfed Printing – Tayla Jones of Logan Print
The Top 6 share a brief thought as to what they enjoy most about having chosen a career in print.
Jessia Moore: “The print industry is always changing and adapting. There is always new information to learn and the possibilities are endless. There are so many things that blow my mind with what we can do and how it’s done. I love reading the printing magazines to see what other people are doing.”
Eligh Arthur: “The print industry overall is just massive and that in itself is an exciting prospect. There’s always room to learn and gain new skills which is something I find deeply gratifying in a job. There are always problems to be solved on a daily basis and that is something I find really draws me to being involved in the industry.”
Faamao (Paul) Müller: “Working and learning alongside some of the best if not the best, who have been in the printing industry for over 20-plus years and taking in their knowledge, is something I don’t take for granted. The best thing about being in the printing industry – every day is unique and different with its own set of events, challenges and opportunities.”
Toese Fauatea: “Working for this company is a blessing for me and my small family. I am proud to be part of Opal Packaging and enjoy as an operator being able to move from one machine to another. I am hugely grateful to the people who have helped me through my journey – the leader, the supervisor and the other print and die-cutter operators. I love every part of my job and take great pride in both my work and my workplace, making sure I always check the quality of everything I do, and keeping my work area tidy.”
Bradley Smith: “What I enjoy most is the sense of fulfilment that comes from completing a job to a high standard, from beginning to end. There’s something special about producing something tangible that others can see and use. The print industry offers a unique blend of creativity, precision and collaboration, with each day bringing new challenges. I also really appreciate the people I work with – there’s a strong sense of teamwork and pride in what we do.”
Tayla Jones: “I love being in the print industry as it is so unique and like nothing I’ve experienced before. There are always challenges at work and it keeps me on my toes. I also love how much I have grown in the years and continue to grow and get better. I have dedicated myself to Logan Print and my younger self would be so proud with how much I have learnt and accomplished.”