PrintNZ GM Ruth Cobb says the decision to include signmakers/speciality graphics in the Top 12 Apprentices of the Year finalists for 2020 illustrates that the national association “strives to keep at the forefront of evolutions within the sector.”
“There are many overlapping areas within sign and print – in many cases the work is produced on the same machinery, with printers making signs and signmakers doing printing,” Cobb says.
“As our industry continues to evolve, so too should our celebrations of people and products and so we are thrilled this year for the first time to have two signmaking graduates included in our Top 12.”
This year’s Top 12 finalists (in alphabetical order):
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| (l-r) Parth Bhatt of McHargs, Christchurch (Binding and Finishing); Thomas Bloxham of Southern Colour Print, Dunedin (Binding and Finishing); Aleshia Edens of James Print, Greymouth (Digital Printing); Vanessa Hooton of Tainui Press, Matamata (Digital Printing) |
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| (l-r) Ryan Scott-Fellows of Hally Labels, Christchurch (Reelfed Printing); Emma Maxwell of EIL, Christchurch (Screen Printing); David O’Brien of Sign Network, Christchurch (Signmaking); Nurudin Pelenda of Ovato, Auckland (Sheetfed Printing) |
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| (l-r) Bonny Seymour of the Gisborne Herald, Gisborne (Reelfed Printing); Matthew Stockford of Gravure Packaging, Wellington (Reelfed Printing); Koshy Thomas of Oji Fibre Solutions Paper Bag Auckland (Reelfed Printing); Kadin Woods of Mirage Visual, Palmerston North (Signmaking) |
Cobb laments that given this year marked both the debut of signmakers/specialty graphics and the difficulty judges had narrowing down the quality candidates, they could not be given due peer recognition at the traditional Graduation Ceremonies.
“Even prior to the Prime Minister’s Level 1 COVID-19 announcement on March 14, PrintNZ had taken the decision, with much regret, that we would cancel the upcoming ceremonies,” says Cobb.
“For the safety of our industry and communities, we needed to show leadership and make that decision – and, subsequently, that call has of course been validated by the rapid escalation to Level 4. However, an unavoidable and unfortunate consequence is we haven’t been able to announce the Top 12 in deserved fashion in front of their families, friends and colleagues.
“We very much want to ensure the Top 12 receive the full prestige that their dedicated and outstanding efforts warrant. Their Competenz training advisors and employers/managers alike have praised them in the highest terms, and we encourage the industry and our media stakeholders to afford due recognition to these very worthy finalists.”
For further information please email PrintNZ general manager Ruth Cobb at ruth.cobb@printnz.co.nz or phone 027 248 9404.
