Business feature: AdvanceQuip apprenticeship
AdvanceQuip to kit out a new starter with $10,000 worth of tools, which they get to keep upon completion
AdvanceQuip New Zealand is a family-owned and operated heavy construction machinery supplier, founded in Gore in 2004. Over the last 18 years, the company has grown exponentially across the country, with branches now in Christchurch and Auckland and a significant number of authorised service centres covering every region of New Zealand.
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From left: Tony Billyard, service manager; Brylea Eaves; Steve McLean, AdvanceQuip |
As the company grows, the search for new talent to join the team is an ongoing endeavour, with a range of technical roles always in demand. To ensure AdvanceQuip was able to source the most talented individuals to meet the company’s ever-increasing needs, they launched an apprenticeship programme in 2012, which this year celebrates its 10-year anniversary.
During this period, AdvanceQuip has welcomed numerous apprentices, of which four still work for the company, to build upon the experience gained during their tenure. One of the newest apprentices is 17-year-old Brylea Eaves, who is based at AdvanceQuip’s Gore branch.
Following a suggestion from her school career advisor, Brylea joined the business in May 2021 in a casual role cleaning machines, and it wasn’t long before her hard work and passion for machinery led to the company offering her an apprenticeship position early this year.
"My Dad is a hot-rodder who did his time as a car, tractor, and truck mechanic and this quickly got me interested in old machinery and hot-rods. By the end of Year 11 at school, I was fully invested in doing something mechanical as a career path," says Brylea.
"My school’s career advisor at the time had advised that Gore Machine Hire (a division of AdvanceQuip) was looking for an after-school cleaner. I’m not sure I was that good at cleaning, but I enjoyed getting to see and work on different machines.
Not too long after I was approached about applying for an apprenticeship." AdvanceQuip says they offer a diverse range of machine types as part of their portfolio and as such there are many opportunities to hone a mechanic’s skills, whether it’s on modestly sized skid-steers or imposing heavy wheel loaders and excavators.
Despite the challenges of learning new skills, Brylea says she has thoroughly enjoyed her initial months in the role and the work environment that AdvanceQuip provides.
"Everyone I work with or have come across has been very positive, and I’ve found it to be a very inclusive workplace. We all have the same goal of making our customers happy, and the other mechanics are great at explaining things if I’m a little lost at times," she says.
"Currently I’m looking to further develop my mechanic skills and my overall knowledge of the different machines I’ll work on over my time here."
As AdvanceQuip looks to build on a pattern of growth after the challenges of COVID-19, the opportunities for young talent to get their start in the industry are increasing, the company says.
The business is a supplier for a range of brands, including exclusivity for CASE Construction, ASTRA off-highway trucks, ASV Posi-track, plus, the recent addition of XCMG compact excavators makes AdvanceQuip a varied and exciting environment for any young apprentice.
In response to one of the greatest frustrations for a new apprentice (as well as their colleagues), AdvanceQuip will kit out a new starter with $10,000 worth of tools, which they get to keep upon completion.
To find out more about AdvanceQuip’s apprenticeship programme, get in touch with the team at advancequip.co.nz.
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