Training rewards

Every Tuesday evening BPC Southern Region team members studying towards a L2-L5 trade certificate work together to achieve the qualifications needed to progress their careers.

It’s one of the initiatives Training Manager Jimmy Boyack (pictured left) has introduced to help his team mates achieve their ambitions. “Working and studying is tough,” he says. “After 10 hours out in the rain pouring concrete, the last thing you feel like doing is cracking on with your bookwork. So I started a weekly Study Session at the office to support our apprentices with their studies, give guidance, and build their construction knowledge. We start the evening sharing kai and talking a bit of smack, then go hard on their units.”

Jimmy began his career as a Formworker Apprentice, working his way up to becoming a Foreman before taking on his Training Manager role three years ago. He spends his time with crews on site doing Operator Competency Assessments, welding tickets, crane and lifting training, Site Safe virtual reality, English and literacy tutoring, and recently marine training. His expertise is still called on for hydraulic and grouting work on projects around the region.

Along with the satisfaction of seeing his workmates succeed, the role also enables Jimmy to better share parenting responsibilities and coach junior rugby - “impossible” if he was still a Foreman because of the weekend and night-shift work involved.