November 21, 2024
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Mechanical apprentice Mike Vitale is on cloud nine after taking out not just one, but two top accolades at New Zealand Steel’s annual New Zealand and Pacific Islands awards night last month. The talented Pacific Steel employee was named both Mechanical Apprentice of the Year and Overall Apprentice of the Year, an achievement he describes as “totally unexpected and a huge honour”.
“My mates from the mechanical department were up for an award so I just went along to support them. I had no expectations of winning anything myself,” admits the Mangere East 44 year old.
“I was surprised and shocked when they called my name out for Mechanical Apprentice of the Year and then when I won the overall award too I felt honoured and humbled because there were so many apprentices nominated. To be recognised for any award is amazing – but to be recognised in front of your peers, friends and family is something I’ll remember for the rest of my career.”
Mike’s manager Eddie Green said the accolades were well deserved and he couldn’t be happier for the hardworking apprentice.
“This is an excellent and fitting reward for Mike given the large number of apprentices that NZ Steel employs and the talent that the business has within all of our apprentices. It was a very proud time to share with Mike and to acknowledge his achievement.”
Eddie also paid tribute to Competenz Training Advisor William Malloy, thanking him for his “support and encouragement throughout his apprenticeship and regular communications and review visits. These actions have strongly contributed to Mike’s outstanding achievements”.
Mike launched his career at Pacific Steel 15 years ago, but only began his Competenz apprenticeship in 2022.
“I was in Production for 11 years and I was a Cold End Team Leader for six of those before moving to Offline. I’ve always enjoyed fixing things and seeing how they work and would always try to help the fitters repair machines during breakdowns. When the opportunity to do a mechanical apprenticeship came about I jumped at the idea.”
While Mike admits it hasn’t all been plain sailing (“getting back into the classroom was interesting at my age!”) with plenty of support from Pacific Steel and Competenz, he has navigated any hurdles and is thriving in his apprenticeship.
“Eddie has helped so many of us through our apprenticeships. He always has time for us and has a passion for supporting apprentices and seeing them through the whole process. My Competenz Training Advisor has also been very encouraging. Will brings new energy to my apprenticeship, is very supportive of me to get my units done, and is always helpful when it comes to changing my units or sending me new ones.”
For Will, supporting and mentoring apprentices like Mike is what gets him out of bed in the morning, and he is delighted to see Mike flourish in the industry.
“I’m really proud of him for winning both awards, it’s a significant achievement that he truly deserves,” says Will. “I’m confident he has a bright future ahead and will excel in his ongoing apprenticeship and further education. The sky’s the limit for Mike.”
The triumph has been a huge confidence booster for the father of three, and Mike is excited about his future.
“Gaining this recognition gives me the confidence to know I’m heading in the right direction with my trade. It will definitely encourage me to finish my apprenticeship and then move to specialise in a mechanical pathway.”
He hopes his success will also inspire other Pacific Islanders to follow in his footsteps.
“It’s very encouraging seeing qualified Pacific Islanders in the industry, even meeting Pacific Islander apprentices at block courses. But there are so many talented young Pacific Islanders out there who are not meeting their full potential.”
His advice to them? “Don’t be afraid to fail, and have the right people and systems around you that will support you to accomplish your goals. All our parents came to this country for a better life, so we owe it to them to do the best we can.”
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