Travers Dobson of Christchurch’s Leading Label Company was named the BJ Ball Apprentice of the Year at the 2026 Pride In Print Awards held at the Te Pae Convention Centre on Friday June 26.
Dobson, who with family has since relocated to Auckland, says it was “unreal” hearing his name read out accompanied by Leading Label Company managing director Bryce Coulbeck.
“My former boss gave me a big hug on stage and that was pretty cool,” Dobson said. “You have the interview that morning and you have no idea how you did. I was just impressed with myself to finish the actual apprenticeship, so to get Apprentice of the Year is pretty unreal.
“And Leading Label is based in Christchurch, so all of my former workmates and suppliers were there – it was awesome to be named Apprentice of the Year in front of them.”
Looking back to the start of his journey, Dobson recalls becoming captivated by the print industry.
“I remember in my first week at Leading Label, there was a supplier on-site chatting to a printer about labels on a press and they were talking really passionately, and I recall thinking ‘it’s no big deal, they’re just some stickers’,” Dobson explained.
“Well, about six months in, it became a pretty big deal as I developed quite a passion for labels and the whole industry, it really grew on me. The day-to-day job of running a press is pretty good work. I was totally unsuspecting.”
As well as expressing gratitude to his wife, trainers, colleagues and industry bodies for their assistance along the journey, he also credits Leading Label Company for having facilitated a “full understanding of the production side of the business”.
“I was involved in everything at some stage – from unloading paper off the truck, pre-press, printing, finishing, despatch and even helping the courier load the van at times. I was given every opportunity to learn new equipment,” said Dobson.
“There is a big passion for the craft at Leading Label, but the biggest thing was everyone was always genuinely keen to share what they know and help me learn and progress.
“Leading Label had merged with two other companies recently, so there is such a broad range of experience in the company. Working at Leading Label is about as good as it gets. Everyone there wants you to be as good as you can be.”
Coulbeck described Dobson as being a “particularly adaptable person with high intellect”.
“Given the combination of his practical knowledge of mechanising, along with his computer skills, I believed he could be an asset in either the conventional or digital printing space,” explained Coulbeck.
According to Ruth Cobb, chief executive of PrintNZ, Dobson exemplified a tradesperson who has “thought a lot about print”.
“Not just where it has been and where it is now, but how things might change in the future,” Cobb continued. “You are engaged, motivated to solve problems and lead by example. You are an asset to your employer.”
