Page 70 - Print21 March-April 2020

Association News
News updates from the printing industry
And the award goes to...
PrintNZ CEO Ruth Cobb looks forward to an exciting awards season,
and says print businesses can reap real rewards from entering their work.
March saw the start of the awards season for the printing industry. It
may not be as glamorous as the Oscars, but what we are celebrating is exactly the same – people and businesses that have honed their craft and produced their absolute best work in the industry they have chosen to make a career in.
We celebrate the best apprentices (actors) and best work (films) and people have the right to be just as proud. We are an industry full of talent and that is evidenced by the amazing array of work that wins at the Pride In Print Awards, and, in some cases, goes on further to win at overseas awards.
The first events to hit
the stage were the PrintNZ Training Graduations in Auckland on 19 March and Christchurch on 23 April. These events were a chance for every person that had completed a training qualification during 2019 to have their moment in the spotlight and be celebrated in front of the industry, their family and colleagues.
Skilled workers across all aspects of the business are vital to the future of our industry and rewarding learning will hopefully encourage others
to upskill and cross-skill. We can’t afford to have the skill levels in our industry decline – while technology may change the way we print, it remains a craft and we still need skilled craftspeople to who understand how the process works and
how to get the best out of the technology they are working with. It is part of PrintNZ’s role to ensure that more businesses in the industry take up the challenge to train and hosting these events puts a focus on training and highlights the companies and individuals that are succeeding.
Ruth Cobb, CEO, PrintNZ
The graduations also celebrate those that have excelled during their training and are the platform that launches the pathway to naming the Apprentice of the Year. For the first time this year we named a Top 12 instead of a Top 10, as there were so many candidates worthy of that next level of recognition.
The 2019 Honours Board:
From this Top12 the following Sector Winners were announced:
Sheetfed Apprentice of the Year
• Nurudin Pelenda, Ovato,
Auckland
Reelfed Apprentice
of the Year
• Bonny Seymour, Gisborne Herald, Gisborne
Digital Apprentice
of the Year
• Vanessa Hooton, Tainui Press, Matamata
Packaging Apprentice
of the Year
• Ryan Fellows, Hally Labels, Christchurch
Binding and Finishing Apprentice of the Year Partha Bhardwaj, McHargs, Christchurch
From here, one of these five sector winners will go on to win the overall Apprentice of the Year Award.
Which brings us on to the next Awards event – the Pride In Print Awards gala dinner which takes place in Auckland on 8 May. This is the biggest night on the industry calendar where 600+ people enjoy a spectacular event, showcasing the magnificent work that
our industry produces, and recognising the talented individuals contending for
the overall Apprentice of the Year title.
our industry and it is a special opportunity for them to see the way our industry rewards excellence.
The Pride In Print Awards are in their 27th year and embody a culture of excellence. I know the judging gets more difficult each year as the quality of the entries improves, and this tests the expertise
of the judges to not only
award the gold medals, but
to then have to narrow down those gold medal winners to determine the Category and Process Awards, and ultimately the Supreme Award.
And this brings us back full circle to training – without trained, skilled people in our industry, we would not have the broad range of expertise that
is needed to judge the myriad products that are entered into the Awards. Our Apprentice
of the Year candidates will eventually be our future Pride In Print judges, as they expand their skill and knowledge during their careers.
These events celebrate what is great about our industry – be part of that celebration and if you win an award – share the good news. Celebrating in front of your peers is fantastic, but taking that winning work and telling your customers about it is where the hard work comes to fruition.
And if you employ an award- winning apprentice – make something of them in your
local newspaper and to your customers, so they understand the investment you make in your staff and the expertise your business has at its fingertips.
Everyone likes to be rewarded for their hard work and dedication so good luck to all
of those that enter any of these industry awards programmes. In particular, congratulations to our Top 12 and the five Sector Apprentice of the Year winners who have already started on a
Top 12 Apprentices:
• Ryan Fellows, Hally Labels, Christchurch
• Aleshia Edens, James Print, Greymouth
• Emma Maxwell, EIL, Christchurch
• Partha Bhardwaj, McHargs, Christchurch
• Thomas Bloxham, Southern Colour Print, Dunedin
• Bonny Seymour, Gisborne Herald, Gisborne
• Matthew Stockford, Gravure Packaging, Wellington
It is a highlight of my job
to be able to announce the
Apprentice of the Year, Trainer
of the Year, and Training
Company of the Year at this
event. I appreciate the attention
and absolute respect that is paid
to these people as they come
on stage and receive their well-
deserved recognition. They are
the people shaping the future of rewarding career. 21
• Vanessa Hooton, Tainui Press, Matamata
• Nurudin Pelenda, Ovato, Auckland
• Koshy Thomas, Oji Fibre Solutions, Auckland
• Kayden Woods, Mirage Visual, Palmerston North
• David O’Brien, Sign Network, Christchurch
70 Print21 MARCH/APRIL 2020