Bright spark, Matthew Tassell who is employed by Novaskill and hosted by J.A. Martin Electrical, has won the Apprentice of the Year Award in the NSW/ACT 2020 Group Training Awards.

The Group Training Awards recognise outstanding achievementsin the vocational education and training sector.

The Awards reward and honour the achievements of apprentices, trainees, host employers and group training organisations.

Reflecting on his win, Matthew said he was thrilled to see the effort pay off.

“I’m really happy, as this makes all the hard work at TAFE and on the job worth it,” he said.

“I’m also really thankful to have received such great training through J.A. Martin with the ongoing support of Novaskill.”

Matthew progressed through his apprenticeship with high praise, and consistently received feedback from his supervisors, TAFE teachers and peers as someone who was a role model and mentor for the other apprentices.

Matthew’s Supervisor described him as someone who has great intuition and fast learning abilities.

With these qualities being something hard to come by in apprentices, it quickly become a factor that made him the most requested among tradesmen.

Group Training Manager of Novaskill, Craig White said Matthew has a great career ahead of him with the ability and skills he possesses.

“Matthew is a great ambassador for J.A. Martin Electrical and for the apprenticeship model of employment coupled with training,” Craig said.

“Matthew demonstrated the dedication to learn new skills, develop his knowledge, and build a long-term career in the electrical industry.”

Craig said that more than ever, it’s important for people to embrace the opportunity to take up a trade and learn a new skill.

“Apprenticeships are at the heart of workforce development in this country, helping to build a highly skilled and talented workforce, that live and work in our local communities,” he said.

“With recent government wage subsidies and policies to support apprentices and trainees, now is a great time to create employment opportunities and ensure business develops the skilled workers it needs today to continue to grow in the future.

“Through our apprentice mentoring and business support we canreally cushion the impact of the current economic climate for host employers, whilst helping to stimulate apprentice employment and higher completion rates.”

Novaskill is part of a network of Group Training Organisations across Australia that currently employs some 25,000 apprentices and trainees, hosted by small businesses through to large local government and provides a unique avenue to match high quality host employers with work-ready apprentices and trainees that are supported through to completion.

IMAGE | 2020 NSW/ACT Group Training Awards Apprentice of the Year recipient, Matthew Tassell