Building apprentice Luke Dickinson can add another notch to his tool belt following a convincing win at the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Apprentice Challenge at ITM Mount on Saturday.

Four apprentices from across the region donned their tool belts and safety gear for the annual test, which involved building an outdoor table and bench seating.

The 20-year-old competed against other local apprentices under a fixed timeframe, and the final product was judged on his workmanship, skill and time management.

The outdoor table and bench seating was one of the trickiest challenges yet, as it tested each apprentice's attention to detail, with carpentry joints involved in its design not typically included in an outdoor furniture set from a retailer.

NZCB Chief Executive Grant Florence notes the impressive calibre of skills on show.

'Fostering more quality apprentices is critical for the future of New Zealand's growing building industry, especially in context of our present construction boom and current shortage of qualified builders to meet demand, and is certainly a responsibility NZCB takes seriously,” says Grant.

'It's great to see Bay of Plenty's local apprentices taking up the opportunity to participate in the NZCB Apprentice Challenge, and NZCB is pleased to give back to the community by way of donating the finished products, with materials sponsor ITM.”

Luke won a Makita Drill and Driver combination kit and a $300 ITM gift voucher, and will represent Bay of Plenty in the NZCB Apprentice Challenge Final to be held at the NZCB Annual Conference in Auckland on May 26-27.

The NZCB Apprentice Challenge in Bay of Plenty was one of 14 events being held simultaneously across New Zealand on April 8. It is run by NZCB and its Industry Training Association Building (ITAB), in conjunction with ITM.

More comprehensive than other apprentice training schemes, ITAB provides over four years of extensive practical experience and solid theoretical training, setting apprentices up for a successful career in the building industry with a broad set of professional skills.