Window of opportunity for Gisborne glazier led to award,

No pane, no gain: Gisborne glazier Asher Takao was recently awarded the Allan Sage Memorial Award for Apprentice Excellence in the Glass Industry. Picture by Paul Rickard

Work ethic, character and a good skill set has earned Gisborne glazier Asher Takao the Allan Sage Memorial Award for apprentice excellence in the glass industry.

Mr Takao topped trade school three years in a row and two years ago was judged most promising apprentice.

“It’s great to win the award,” he says.

“It’s good for my CV and good for future ambitions.”

Before he decided to take on an apprenticeship in glazing, Mr Takao was enrolled in a joinery course at Gisborne Development Trades Training Centre.

“We made some window frames and came down here to Gisborne Glass to put the glass in. I came back later and asked for some work experience.”

Glazing is a skill that requires much practice to master, he says.

“It takes years to get the hang of it. It’s not something you can pick up overnight.”

There is so much variety in glazing — there is a lot “to get good at”.

“One day you might be at a house fixing windows and the same day you might fix a tractor windscreen. In a single day you might do five different jobs that require five different skills.”

Eligible nominees for the award are judged through BCITO (Building and Construction Apprenticeships) on the year three block of credits at trade school, outcomes from their work and training assessments.

Mr Takao became eligible for nomination last year after he completed a three-year apprenticeship with Gisborne Glass and was judged on overall glazing apprenticeship skills.

His nomination for the awards included examples of his work such as the glazing he did for the Gisborne District Council building and HB Williams Memorial Library buildings.