National Certificate in Panelbeating or Refinishing

By JANINE OGIER

The course

A scarcity of panelbeaters and vehicle refinishers has led a New Zealand insurance company to sponsor an apprentice scheme to promote jobs in the vehicle collision repair industry.

IAG New Zealand, which trades under the State and NZI insurance brands, pays all the fees and course-related costs for 40 apprentices around the country as they study towards a National Certificate in Panelbeating or Refinishing.

The training programme is run by the New Zealand Motor Industry Training Organisation (Mito) and the level four NZQA qualifications are internationally recognised. Apprentices study in their own time by correspondence while employed with an IAG New Zealand repairer.

The panelbeating certificate involves a total of 198 credits, while the refinishing certificate has 162 credits. People learn practical skills on the job and complete at least one assignment at home every two weeks.

They sit tests for all the theory unit standards and have to demonstrate competency in the workplace, which means completing the practical work without supervision and in a commercially acceptable time.

Online tutors are available and a Mito customer services manager visits four times a year to make sure the training is on track. An IAG service development manager also monitors an apprentice's progress.

Apprentices have 40 hours of off-job training each year. They can either attend weekly evening tutorials on theory at a local polytechnic, go on a block course about specific aspects of the job, or study a leading-edge technology course through the US I-CAR system on topics such as damage analysis, structural steel parts, refinish colour matching and plastic repair.

An apprenticeship normally takes around three years to complete.

IAG plans to have a further intake of 20 apprentices next year and maintain a level of 60 sponsored apprentices thereafter. Applications need to be made in January.

Applicants need to demonstrate a willingness to learn and a positive attitude to work; good communication skills; an interest in the motor industry, particularly panelbeating and refinishing; an ability to understand and apply technical information; and a commitment to meeting responsibilities to an employer and to study. They must have School Certificate or NCEA equivalent English and Maths.

Successful applicants are matched with an employer in their area.


What students think

Jonathan Lord, 18

Second-year apprentice

Tuakau Panelbeaters

I was already working at Tuakau Panelbeaters when my boss mentioned the apprenticeship.

I want to be qualified and have something behind me, to have a trade rather than be a worker.

In my own time there are a certain amount of papers I have to do. I send it away and then do a test paper on it and show I can do the practical side of it.

There is no schedule when you have to have it done by, but they prefer we do one every two weeks.

You can do the papers in any order, so you can do one that relates to what you are doing in the workplace. Say if we are buffing a car or polishing it up - you can do that paper at the same time as you are doing the practical work.

Having the qualification will be good if I ever want to set up my own business.

What employers think

Graham Russell

Director

Tuakau Panelbeaters

Tuakau

When someone has completed an apprenticeship you know they have served their time, and you know what they are capable of because they are certified.

It gives you an idea of the standard of the person and their commitment to the job.

The IAG-sponsored programme is good because apprentices can see the input from the insurance side of industry, plus someone else is involved in their development apart from them and their boss.

Later on that will have the advantage of everyone working closer together for the benefit of all concerned.

The off-premises training from Mito is vitally important as the apprentices get an insight into other things that we might not do here.Janine Ogier

IAG-sponsored apprenticeship scheme for National Certificate in Panelbeating or Refinishing

Pay: an average of $350 gross a week while in training.

Phone: 07 958 6220

MITO

dave.stewart@iag.co.nz