What is getting your stripes?
This is a great apprenticeship programme that will cover off everything you need to know in order to achieve the NZ Certificate in Concrete Production (level 4) as well as some additional skills on the way!
Grab the brochure for the full scoop!
What makes concrete important?
- Since the ancient Egyptians, concrete has been an relied on for developing our communities
- Our cities and roads rely on concrete
- Kiwis rely on concrete to build their homes
- It’s used all around the world
- Concrete and it’s uses are developing all the time
- There are lots of different mixes and uses
A CAREER IN CONCRETE
There is a great variety of jobs in the concrete production industry. After you complete your apprenticeship, you might specialise in testing, batching or dispatching. You could train as a concrete truck driver or work towards running the plant one day.
Find out about the career stories of two of our team members:
Coby Amohau
Plant Supervisor Kapiti
In 2019 I started with Firth after changing from insurance/investments, where I previously worked. I started as truck driver in Levin with a great team of workmates.
As a very hands on person, I soon started driving the loader and helping the batcher make concrete and slump trucks. In 2020 I moved to Kapiti as a batcher, doing the Wellington Transmission Gulley which was great experience. Since then I have upskilled with some of the great training available such as, “Step Up to Leadership”, the NZ Certificate in Concrete Production and Whakatupuwhich was both a career and life changer.
In 2023 I became Plant supervisor at the Kapiti plant. I have a great team of people and am blessed to work for an organization that is happy to train and invest in the people.
Jordan Bedford
Plant Supervisor Albany & Silverdale
I started with Firth in 2018. While working in the yard I also helped the plant engineers with repairs and plant maintenance. In 2020 I started working in the lab with the technical team covering the Auckland region.
In 2021 I took on the leading hand role at the Hamer Street plant (which included batching and testing) and within a few months I was promoted to the role of Plant Supervisor which was pretty cool to achieve so early in my career.
Over the last few years I have received leadership training from Firth and have earned more permits, my plan next is to get my confined space and working at heights certificate.
I enjoy working at Firth as it’s an ever-changing business with loads of room for learning and career advancement.
Achieve the NZ Certificate in Concrete Production (Level 4) in 2 years!
We have the scale and amazing people to guide you through all the key parts of the concrete production trade. We are one of the biggest concrete production trainers in the country and have been helping our people earn NZQA standards for years.
At the end of 2 years you will know how to;
- Drive a forklift.
- Drive a small truck.
- Know how to test concrete to make sure the stuff going out in trucks will do the job.
- Be able to fill the trucks with the right mixes (batching).
- Understand what’s involved in getting the trucks out the door with the right mix heading to the right places (dispatching).
- Understand how a concrete business works and can help customers figure out what products are best for them.
For more information on the NZ Certificate in Concrete Production done through BCITO: New Zealand Certificate in Concrete Production Level 4 (bcito.org.nz)
And here’s what the learning journey is like over 2 years:
At the end of Your apprenticeship…
You will be signed off we will work with you to place you into a job that that will continue to grow your skills. Some people go on and study the NZ Certificate in Construction Trades Supervisor (Level 4) and can be leading their own site within a couple of years!