Ollie Garratt
My dad works in Engineering so I wanted to get more of feel for what it could be like and learn more skills before starting study. I am doing Engineering at school and have found that this Trades Academy course has worked well with what I am learning at Marlborough Boys College.
NMIT has more equipment than school, so it has been good to learn about a wide range of tools and how to use them. I have found coming over from Marlborough each Friday okay, even missing school has not been too challenging as I have study periods that I use to catch up on any work missed. It has definitely been worth coming for the experience in a different learning environment and you gain heaps from it.
The tutors are helpful and teach you lots of new things, they are willing to spend one-on-one time with you to share their skills and help you develop further. I have enjoyed how hands on this course it and being able to make new stuff.
I am on track to gain NCEA Level 2 and I would like to gain an apprenticeship in Fabrication Engineering, but if not, I would look to do the Level 3 pre-trade in Mechanical Engineering at NMIT next year. I feel what I have learnt on Trades Academy will be helpful in gaining an apprenticeship in the future.