PrintNZ awards APN apprentice
A change of country and career paid off for Richard Hughes, who has been chosen as PrintNZ Training reel fed apprentice of the year for New Zealand.
Hughes, (pictured), who trained with the Royal Navy, struggled to find work in the UK and, on a whim, headed to New Zealand.
"I heard on the grapevine there was an opportunity at Wanganui so I thought I would get my foot in the door. However I thought it was a fitter's or mechanical job, which is what I was trained in," he said.
"Instead, it was a printing apprenticeship. But I took the chance and have never looked back."
This was in January 2004. Four years later, Hughes, 32, was ecstatic to find that his efforts at APN Print in Wanganui had paid off, resulting in his win.
"I am absolutely rapt but in truth I never thought about awards when I started off. I just focused on doing the apprenticeship well and I gave it my all," he said.
Plant manager, Adam Kerse, paid tribute to Richard's achievement. "It is great to see an apprentice take the level of interest in resolving press and quality issue as Richard does," he said.
APN Print New Zealand general operations manager Dan Blackbourn will visit the Wanganui plant to present a gift to Richard on behalf of the company, recognising his achievement.
Hughes will know soon how he fares in the overall PrintNZ Training apprenticeship award at the NZ Pride In Print Awards in Auckland on May 16, when he competes against apprentices from other print fields including pre-press and graphic arts.