Climbing the ladder to success!
At just 26 years of age, Daniel Boyd already has a number of motor industry qualifications to his name – and now he’s won a scholarship that will take his learning to a whole new level!
Hawera-based Daniel has been part of the industry since he went looking for an after-school job when he was 13. He contacted Andrew Purser Panelbeaters Ltd, where his aptitude for collision repair eventually saw him employed full-time and enrolled in a MITO apprenticeship.
A passion for learning
With support from MITO and employer Andrew Purser, Daniel’s passion for learning has flourished ever since.
Having completed his National Certificate in Panelbeating, he gained the country’s highest mark for his 2004 ‘A’ Grade examination, then in 2005 won the MTA Tom Hodgson Memorial Apprenticeship of the Year Award.
The learning didn’t stop there. Daniel later spent a year in Canada, where he acquired a lot of knowledge that he shared with Andrew Purser Panelbeaters Ltd on his return. He has now recently completed the motor industry’s elite training programme, ATech®, and by May this year plans to complete his National Certificate in First Line Management – an important step in transforming his skills into credentials for a management position.
This new focus on management also inspired Daniel to apply recently for a scholarship offered by Massey University – the EXMSS (Massey Extramural Students’ Society) ‘Trade to Tertiary Scholarship’. He was awarded $1,500 towards his tuition fees for extramural study towards a Bachelor of Business Studies.
Daniel says he just loves learning. “I enjoy the mental stimulation of learning new skills and knowledge as I am a highly motivated person,” he says.
“I particularly enjoyed doing ATech® – I apply what I’ve learned in my everyday work, and some of the areas it covers, such as legal research, are proving really useful for my university study and other interests. The First Line Management and Massey degree programmes will give me a new set of skills, which will be great for my long-term career.”
While undertaking his study, Daniel has progressed to become Andrew’s right-hand man, with increasing responsibilities in the workshop. His pay packet is looking healthier too, with recognition for the skills he’s bringing to the business.
“We encourage all our apprentices to take their studies as far as they can,” says Andrew. “They bring fresh skills and new approaches to the business, and in turn improve our productivity levels and the service we provide to our customers.
“Daniel has been amazing – he’s suggested and implemented a number of improvements that have saved us time and therefore money, and he’s always coming up with new ideas to make us more efficient or give us a competitive edge.”
Andrew also believes that supporting people through apprenticeships helps with staff retention. “I’m lucky to have a loyal team – and it’s good to see people who leave us, such as Daniel for his OE, coming back to our business when they get home.”
