Two apprentices within the Tech Group of Companies have been awarded certificates of achievement this year, marking their success in their engineering careers.

Customer satisfaction brings rewards

Chilltech’s Zoe Brogdon has just become a fully-trained engineer having received her Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Level 4 National Certificate which took close to four years to complete.

She joined Chilltech a year ago, and before that started her on-the-job training with Cowley Refrigeration.

“With Cowley I was mainly working in supermarkets installing new refrigeration systems, maintaining equipment, and doing the commissioning of all the installs that were done. There was a lot of small domestic stuff as well though, and I also spent about six months on the electrical side which helped when I joined Chilltech.”

She decided to take a job with Chilltech because it offered new opportunities and, with the help of Chilltech management, she took the bull by the horns and started up its supermarket division.

She often gets asked why she chose to get into this traditionally male-dominated field (she is the only female engineer at Chilltech), and she says she doesn’t really have an answer.
“I suppose the main driver was that I did not want an inside job where I wished I was working outside – this is great in that respect and it also keeps me fit.”

The variety of work every day, as well as the satisfaction of meeting customers’ demands, are the main aspects she enjoys about the job, she says.
“It’s a very people-oriented environment. You are dealing with customers one-on-one and it’s great to be able to help them out – there is an enormous amount of job satisfaction.”

She credits the support of those she has worked with as being key to reaching her career goals.
“If it was not for the people within the industry supporting me, I would not be where I am today – the people around me have been fabulous.”

On the fast track to success

Autotech’s Joshua Benson started his apprenticeship in May last year and recently received the 2007 MTA Hawke’s Bay Best Apprentice Year 1 National Certificate of Automotive Engineering.

He was also awarded the Hawke’s Bay MTA Scholarship for Excellence in EIT Certificate in Automotive Engineering.

His decision to take up a career in automotive engineering was on the cards ever since he was a youngster.
“When I was growing up I always played with motorbikes, chainsaws, weedeaters - anything I could get my hands on that I could wreck, fix or otherwise.”

Getting a job at Autotech has been a perfect opportunity to indulge this passion.
“This is a great place to work – it’s fantastic, an awesome work environment, and the variation of work covers everything and anything from motorbikes and lawnmowers to cars, trailers and trucks.”

His dedication to his job and studies means he is often at work at 7am in the morning to get in some course bookwork before starting the day.
“I’m working towards a National Certificate in Auto Engineering. It can take up to three years, but I would like to be done by end of this year,” he says.

It’s this kind of attitude that makes him a valued member of the Autotech team, and has seen him nominated for the National Apprentice of the Year.

The Tech Group would like to congratulate both Zoe and Joshua for their achievements and recognition of all their hard work.