Nic Colville has almost finished his building apprenticeship. Photo / George Novak
Nic Colville has transferred his passion for landscaping and gardening into building and is living his dream.
The 29-year-old will celebrate the end of his apprenticeship in a few months time and said taking up a trade was the best move of his life.
"I studied horticulture at school and then I worked at some garden centres. But I started thinking about career moves and I didn't know what I wanted to do but I did know I didn't want to be in an office.
"I like outdoors and I like physical tasks and I wanted to work with my hands."
To get a taste for the job Colville did a stint as a hammer hand which eventually led to an apprenticeship with Atrium Homes.
Colville said building was rewarding and satisfying work.
"I'd say it's one of the only jobs where you can actually see the progress and quality of your work over time. So you can go to a site and it's bare ground and when it's finished there is a house on it that someone is going to live in."
At the moment Colville said his boss had a lot of work on and he also had three other apprentices as well.
But now Colville has his mind on the task ahead which is project managing a new build.
"There is quite a lot involved with this house but the boss is very supportive. He wouldn't be throwing me in the deep end if he wasn't confident or comfortable."
Ethan Warrington is thrilled to be following a career in the carpet industry.
Warrington left school at Western Heights High School at Year 12.
"That's when I decided to make the big jump and start to learn my future. It was the best decision I've ever made."
But the Rotorua teenager admitted he did not know what he wanted to do.
Luckily, his parents bought Harrisons Carpet & Flooring in Rotorua from their eldest son Samuel, 23.
"I started doing a couple of jobs with him and really enjoyed it," Ethan said. "My brother taught me everything I know."
The 19-year-old said he had been laying carpet for three years and had just started his apprenticeship with BCITO to gain his Level 1 and 2 qualifications.
"I just picked it up quite fast," he said.
"I enjoy the whole aspect of seeing the before and after product, that's the whole motivation."
His five-year plan is to eventually be contracting himself.
Warrington said the Government's apprenticeship scheme was great for businesses to be able to help boost young people's careers.
"A lot of carpet shops don't really just take on people out of the blue. They look at people who have a background, so the qualification is a good move in case I was to move elsewhere."
His dad - and boss - Lawrence Warrington said his son was a reliable worker with a "can-do attitude" and said doing an apprenticeship was important.
"At the end of the day, the flooring industry does struggle because it is hard work."
Meanwhile, 1st Call Recruitment managing director Phil van Syp said any tradie on the books was being snapped up instantly.
"If they are a builder or plumber or electrician, it's where would you like to work? The trades are extremely busy."
Supply and demand meant employers were offering different incentives to attract qualified staff.
"You have to be competitive and it's not just salary, it's the package.
"The salary is the easy part ... some companies can't afford the number but will say I can do this and I'll do that.
"It's about what makes that environment good for the person."
Flexible working hours, vehicles and phones with data were just some of the incentives on offer, he said.