Tūrangi builder Jayden Jensen rewarded for perseverance in chosen trade

Jayden Jensen's dream of becoming a qualified builder helped him persevere with his apprenticeship. Photo / File

Jayden Jensen knows what can be achieved through perseverance after becoming a qualified builder.

His route to becoming a tradesman had a few twists and turns but he says he got there because of his desire and drive to become a builder.

Jayden's journey started while he was still at school in Tūrangi and he enrolled at Toi Ohomai to study carpentry through the Secondary Tertiary Partnership programme. The experience piqued his curiosity.

After school, Jayden and his partner moved to Australia to check out the opportunities available across the Tasman. But when they came back to Tūrangi for Christmas, they realised they were homesick and wanted to move back home, Jayden says.

"During that time, I was looking around my town for a job and I ended up working as a labourer for an electrician."

Jayden also did a stint with a Taupō building company, but he didn't like the travel and he was stoked when one of the builders, Chris Smith, approached him to work for his business, Central Building, as an apprentice.

Jayden says he had just been offered an apprenticeship with the electrician but he knew the opportunity with Chris was too good to turn down because it would help him achieve his childhood dream of becoming a builder.

After signing up with Chris, he completed the theoretical requirements through Toi Ohomai. He had a brief stint working in the building industry in Auckland during his four-year apprenticeship, but missed living in Tūrangi, so he and his girlfriend moved home again.

Jayden says he was grateful Chris was willing to take him back on. He says he owes Chris for being willing to support him and teach him the skills he needed to be a builder.

"I did a lot of renovations. I also built decks and fences. I didn't really do any commercial work and eventually I wouldn't mind exploring it, but for now want to stay in Tūrangi.

"I know I've still got a lot more to learn, but when I get more confidence I want to get into house-flipping. I've been talking to some of the guys who do it and they reckon it's easy, so I can't wait to give that a crack."

Jayden says he also appreciated the support from Toi Ohomai during his apprenticeship. He says most of his learning was done on-site, but he attended night classes to gain the theoretical knowledge he needed, and staff from Toi Ohomai would come out to check his work and sign it off.

"It was always great being able to catch up with the tutors and trade some stories or get some advice."