Working in his dad’s six-car garage after finishing school sparked a career in the automotive industry for Camden Patterson.
Not finding anything of interest at university, Cam instead secured an apprenticeship in his hometown of Invercargill, where he built a solid foundation in collision repair, completing his Level 3 and 4 qualifications with MITO in 2019.
But Cam wasn’t just learning a trade—he was taking everything in. Observing how businesses were built, how they grew, and how operations were run. That exposure planted a seed and led to a bold move: buying his first commercial property.
Not long after, he decided to open his own business.
“I was like, well, I've already got the building and I feel like I know enough of Southland. And I thought, I’ll just go out on my own,” Cam explains. “I was already using the workshop for my mates’ cars and things. And then I thought, we’ll go full time at Tay Street.”
With no landlord to answer to and a clear understanding of gaps in the local market, Cam launched Patterson Panel & Paint in 2023.
Less than two years later, he extended his portfolio, taking ownership of an existing workshop: Gordon Officer Collision Repairs. Today, Cam continues to operate across both sites and lead a growing team.
One of the turning points? Hiring his first apprentice, Neo Bragg.
Cam first met Neo in 2019. Cam was finishing up his apprenticeship, just as Neo was getting started, completing MITO’s StartUp Ignition – Automotive micro-credential while still at school.
Bringing someone else in didn’t just help with workload—it changed his approach.
“It was just so much better to have someone else there to work with.”
Having a team created accountability, structure, and momentum. It also shifted Cam’s role from doing the work himself to leading others—including helping his new apprentice succeed.
“I quite liked the access to the MITO portal. I could see exactly what Neo needed to do, so I had an idea of what jobs to tee up for him.”
Neo has since completed his New Zealand Certificate in Collision Repair Non-Structural Repair (Level 4), proudly supported by Cam.
Reflecting on his own journey from apprentice to business owner, Cam’s advice is practical and hard-earned:
“I feel like the biggest thing is the location. Sort out where you're going to work first.”
From a home workshop to multiple commercial sites, Cam’s story shows what’s possible with skill, observation, and the willingness to take a chance—and back it up with hard work.
