Each year the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) offers up to five Specialist Trades Outward Bound Scholarships, and late last year five aspiring building professionals spent 21 days at Outward Bound’s Anakiwa centre in the Marlborough Sounds.

Ben Horn of Waihi, Joshua Inivale of Waitakere, Desmond Paseta of Manukau, Matthew Buxton of Tauranga and Rameka Thomas-Dorante of Auckland were all awarded scholarships valued at $4090 each. Each winner passed the course with exceptional personal development results. The course covers challenging physical activities such as kayaking and a high- wire course, along with activities that focus on personal development, relationship building and self-confidence.

BCITO chief executive, Ruma Karaitiana, says the scholarship is both a reward and an acknowledgement of an employee’s potential, and is aimed at helping further their skills both in the workplace and in their own lives. “To win a scholarship, the entrants had to have shown potential within the industry to step up and lead, as well as being physically fit enough to participate in the gruelling 21- day course,” says Karaitiana.

The aim of the scholarship is to recognise talented employees in the construction sector and develop their leadership qualities and professional networks across New Zealand. Applicants are required to outline their future aspirations in the building and construction industry and include references from both their current employer and from their BCITO training advisor.

Ben, a 25-year-old trainee from Mitre 10, applied for the scholarship after receiving a recommendation from a friend. “I had heard about the scholarship, but it wasn’t until I was given a gentle push from a friend that I actually applied. “The most valuable thing about the programme is building self-esteem and knowing you can always push a little bit harder and expand your limits,” says Ben.

Desmond, a specialist cement and concrete worker, highly recommends the course, and encourages others to apply for the scholarship in future years. “The life lessons you learn on the course are so valuable,” he says. “One of the challenges was being dropped off at a random place in the bush and having to work out how to go it on your own. My only option was to learn to adapt to the situation and push through. It was a bit of a test, but that’s basically what life’s about – using your initiative and getting results.”

The scholarship selection panel assessed each applicant on personal qualities including their attitude, motivation and enthusiasm towards their trade, while gaining an understanding of their knowledge of the theoretical and practical elements of their qualification.