Eight finalists have been named in the Bay of Plenty region for the Registered Master Builders Carters 2015 Apprentice of the Year competition.

Alwyn Vickers of Katikati, employed by Lifestyle Homes, is one of eight Bay of Plenty region finalists ion the 2015 Apprentice of the Year competition.

Of the eight picked, five hail from the Western Bay of Plenty and will wait to hear if they make the competitions finals after the BOP regional judging on September 3.

Reegan Masters of Papamoa, employed by Belvedere Group; Jamie Russell of Mount Maunganui, employed by Skilled Building Solutions; Alwyn Vickers of Katikati, employed by Lifestyle Homes; Joshua Benjamin of Tauranga, employed by McMillan & Lockwood; and Jacob Cvitanovich of Tauranga, employed by Form Building and Developments will take on Ben Doherty of Matamata, employed by Gudsell Designer Homes;

Liam Stjernqvist of Taupo, employed by Bayline Construction Limited; and Conor France-Benfell of Rotorua, employed by New Zealand Log Homes.

The competition sees 145 apprentices nationwide set to compete for the coveted Apprentice of the Year title and a share of more than $100,000 worth of prizes.

Written entries will be judged and entrants will be interviewed on September 3 in Tauranga as the judging panel work to find a top apprentice in each of the 10 regions.

The winning apprentice from each region then competes for the national title.

Each winner will receive $2000 to spend at Carters, a spot at an Outward Bound course and a range of products and tools.

Winners from each region come together at the Apprentice of the Year national competition in Auckland this October, with results celebrated at a national awards gala dinner.

Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be a part of the construction industry are encouraged to join the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/apprenticeoftheyear or visit www.apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz