FROM THE GROUND UP

Our apprentice column provides an opportunity for PAC members to share their views, experiences and ideas, while providing insight for builders who employ them. This month’s question is:

Q. Do you plan on becoming an LBP – why or why not?

Name: Reid
Location: Bay of Plenty

At this rate, I’m not 100% sure if I’ll end up as an LBP. I think the idea of being an LBP is a good one but, to be honest, I don’t know a huge amount about what would be required of me if I wanted to become one. I’m enjoying building and getting amongst it, but I don’t know what the end goal of my career is. Right now, I’m just focusing on getting through my apprenticeship and getting a trade under my belt.

I haven’t really had a proper discussion with anybody about the scheme, mainly because there are only two of us on site at the moment – me and my boss – and there’s not a lot of time for chatting. He’s just started up his own company and he seems to be enjoying being the main man, but he’s an LBP, so I’m sure I could talk through it with him later down the road.

I know my brother plans on becoming an LBP one day and I was inspired to get into the construction industry because of him, so, if he does, I’ll be able to talk through the pros and cons with him. He’s moving to the UK in July and plans to use his qualification to find a job. Being able to use my skills to live and work abroad is an appealing thought at the moment.

Name: Ashley
Location: Taranaki

I would like to get my LBP qualification after I finish my apprenticeship. I’m actually going to do a quantity surveying course in a couple of weeks, which should take about 12 months to complete. When I finish that, I’ll be applying for my LBP.

My future goal is to own a company that does building and quantity surveying. Ideally, this will help me to stay on the tools doing a job I love, but also take a back seat at times. My body has taken a beating over the years due to sport and I need a livelihood that isn’t so hard on me physically. So, to do that, I’d need to become an LBP.

I can’t really see any negatives to becoming one. If anything, it’s only a positive step! If you do the work, your name should be on it and it allows you to take credit for a job well done. 

On the other hand, the scheme also keeps people in line – especially the new code of ethics, which is being introduced soon. I think anything that keeps people in line with their responsibilities is good.

Name: Ryan
Location: Otago

I’m recently qualified and, at this stage, I don’t need to become an LBP. There are only two of us at the company I work for and my employer is an LBP, so his name goes on everything. I’d also like to gain a bit more experience and understanding of the whole build process before I look at going for my LBP.

Down the track, having an LBP licence might help with my career progression, because as our company grows, it would be beneficial for me to run other jobs alongside my boss. Before I do that, I want to complete my main goal at the moment, which is to finish my own family home! My boss and I are building it together, so he is signing off the work. It has been quite a journey, as we started it when I was an apprentice! 

I haven’t looked into the scheme enough to know if there’s any gaps in it, but on the whole, it makes sense to have licensed builders separate from qualified builders. There are a lot of inexperienced but qualified builders, who don’t have an LBP licence – so I see being an LBP as a way to prove your quality as a builder.