- Nominee: Kelekolio Setefano
- Employer: Black Steel Mobile Ltd
- Training Organisation: Competenz
- Start date: 19 March 2019
- Course: National Certificate in Heavy Fabrication, Level 4 – Structural Steel Strand
- Training Coordinator: Jonathan Newsome – Competenz, Alan Smith – Competenz and Matthew Adams – Black Steel Mobile Ltd
Introduction
Coming from a background in manufacturing, Kele wanted to upskill and take on a trade to create a more secure future for himself and his young family. He applied for an apprenticeship at Black Steel Mobile in 2019 and despite the added challenges of juggling parenting, dealing with a recurring sports injury, and taking a drop in income, Kele was excited to be offered the opportunity. With a lot of determination and the support of his family, he completed the apprenticeship in November 2023.
Attitude and Initiative
We have trained many apprentices through our program and recognised Kele’s potential very early on. Unphased by the scope or scale of a project, we can always depend on Kele to do the hard yards to get the job done. His positive “can-do” attitude is infectious, and he approaches each assignment with confidence and precision. This combination of qualities is what makes Kele a standout apprentice and valued employee.
Teamwork
Kele is open and approachable and a natural leader in the workshop who is looked up to by the younger apprentices. He communicates well, isn’t afraid to ask questions and is always happy to share his insights and experience at team training and planning sessions. Kele’s energy and enthusiasm have a real impact on the performance and motivation of the team he works with.
He also collaborates well with clients and demonstrates excellent initiative and problem-solving skills. He will often come up with creative solutions on site or in the workshop which directly contribute to the success of a project. One example was in a three-story building with tricky access, Kele devised a clever and secure rigging system to move equipment and material efficiently, significantly reducing the time it took for installation.
Self-motivation
Kele’s maturity, self-motivation and dedication to his work is exceptional. He can always be relied on to turn up on time, take ownership of the job he is assigned and finish it to a high standard.
His commitment to manage the responsibilities of being a parent, complete his studies and consistently produce quality work throughout his apprenticeship exceeded our expectations.
Skills
Kele’s welding skills advanced quickly throughout his apprenticeship and he was able to produce the same caliber of work as a senior welder well ahead of schedule. He achieved this by taking on extra responsibilities, stepping up to work on solo projects early on and having the confidence to tackle any task. He is now our “go to” guy for many of the more complex jobs we take on.
His attention to detail, commitment to excellence and natural ability to master new techniques means we can count on Kele to deliver quality results.
With this confidence in his abilities, Kele was assigned two recent projects which required first-rate finishing. This included exposed beams, complex angles and architecturally exposed structural steel. The level of difficulty on both jobs was very high and would have been a challenge for a more experienced tradesman. Kele did an outstanding job on both projects and proved he has a real talent for highly technical fabrication.
Health and Safety
Midway through, and at great risk of losing his apprenticeship, Kele informed the management team that a past rugby league injury was stopping him from being able to work onsite, a critical function of Black Steel Mobile. As a team, we had to weigh up whether Kele’s attitude and skills justified the cost of restructuring his apprenticeship program to accommodate his injury.
We chose to develop a plan that would allow Kele to complete his apprenticeship and continue to make a meaningful contribution. A new position was created for him in the workshop where he could also focus on mentoring other apprentices. Kele has excelled in this role.
Health and safety has continued to be one of Kele’s top priorities. He adheres to our guidelines and will speak up if he feels something needs improving. He is vigilant when it comes to wearing PPE and makes sure he follows the correct protocols when operating machinery or using hazardous materials. By taking a pro-active approach to his own safety, he sets an example for the other apprentices and contributes to a safer working environment for everyone.
Summary
It’s Kele’s positivity, perseverance and excellent work-ethic that sets him apart and makes him such an asset for our company. However, what has impressed us the most is his ability to balance family responsibilities and the extra workload required to complete his apprenticeship and become a highly skilled tradesman. At the same time, he has been an excellent role model to our young team and can always be relied on to produce quality work for our clients.
Kele has worked hard to invest in himself and in his family’s future and is a very deserving candidate for this award.
Project Work: Kele Setefano
2nd Year Apprentice: June 2020
27180Q – Takapuna
This job involved full penetration welds and 25mm fillets and demonstrated Kele’s perseverance and excellent work ethic. The entire job had to be repeated in a tight timeframe because site dimensions had been changed. It required high volume and high standard welding – a lot of pressure for a second-year apprentice with many long and lonely hours under the welding helmet.
3rd Year Apprentice: July 2021
28573Q – Point Chevalier
This job was Kele’s first solo install. He had to return to fabricate roofline cuts in position as the architectural plans were incorrect. Kele produced great results in spite of the technical difficulties and really showcased his grit and determination to get the job done. The builder on this project went from saying “I’m not taking care of your apprentice” to “Send him on the next job”.
Project Work: Kele Setefano
4th Year Apprentice: June 2023
30579E – New North Road
With architecturally exposed structural steel, this job required high dimensional accuracy and attention to fabrication and handling detail. A good example of Kele’s technical skill and high-quality finishing.
“What impresses me most about Kele is his unphased demeanour in the face of challenging projects. Often entrusted as the heavy fabricator, he approaches each assignment with confidence and precision, delivering exceptional results every time. Kele’s commitment to excellence and his ability to handle complex tasks sets him apart from his peers, a testament to his dedication and skill.”
Matthew Adams
FABRICATION MANAGER
“Kele has a great attitude, nothing is a problem and you can always depend on him to put the hard yards in to get projects done. When it comes to initiative, this is one o f Kele’s strengths, he will often find a creative solution to the problems he comes across.”
Anthony Rihari-Allen
WORKSHOP MANAGER
