Sky-High Career Goals
Working as a Scaffolding Apprentice
If the idea of working up high with a view beats sitting at a desk all day, scaffolding could be your calling!
Just ask Puakari, a scaffolding apprentice at Industrial Site Services in Hamilton who thrives on the buzz, the variety – and the height. For him, every day is an adventure: building structures, working with a tight-knit crew, and scaling new challenges (literally).
“The excitement, activity, thrill and variety of work are the main things I enjoy!”
Check out Puakari’s profile to learn more!
Puakari Winterburn
Scaffolder Apprentice
Puakari’s Advice…
Show up on time, listen to your leaders and those more experienced then you. Don’t be shy to ask questions, people will be willing to help and will teach you a lot.
A chat with Puakari about his role
What does it mean to be a scaffolder?
As a Scaffolder at ISS we do a large variety of work. Some days are spent at the yard loading the trucks from a gear list, other days are out on site where we assemble and erect all the scaffolding. We often will work stay-away jobs where we are sent somewhere else to work for a time.
How did you find this job?
I was looking around for work and went into Work and Income to see if they had any available jobs. I got an appointment to meet with a manager from ISS, who gave me more information and I ended up liking the sound of the work. I applied for the job and started out on a 6-month cadetship with 5 others before moving to an apprenticeship.
What interested you in a career in scaffolding?
I thought the work sounded fun and interesting, it was also something out of my comfort zone. I had never worked with risk or heights and this was a side of the job that intrigued me.
What do you love about scaffolding?
The excitement, activity, thrill and variety of work are the main things I enjoy. I prefer not to be doing the same thing every day. I like the stay aways as you get good money as these can be from a week to 5 weeks long.
What types of jobs stand out to you?
Some of my favourite jobs I have worked on are big ones with lots of parts that make up a large scale scaffolding site.
What are your next steps from here?
For me I am wanting to get my first ticket in elementary scaffolding then work towards my intermediate level ticket. There is also the option of restricted and advanced scaffolding tickets. So just getting more qualifications under my belt.
Puakari Winterburn
Scaffolder Apprentice
What you need to know about Scaffolding
Do you have any previous qualifications?
I do not have qualifications to do with scaffolding, but I have taken part in study to become a dairy farmer. My older brothers were dairy farmers so I followed in their footsteps. I finished the study but then found it wasn’t quite right for me.
What school subjects apply to scaffolding?
Maths for sure as you work with numbers. Physics can be good to take to understand weight and counter weight but is not needed. Another good subject to have knowledge in is geography when it comes to ground make up and different environments.
What scaffolding skills have you learnt at ISS?
Since being here I have learnt a lot of skills and gained a few different scaffolding tickets. As the scaffolding work we do at ISS is industrial I have also gained qualifications to work on large scale industrial sites.
A ticket essentially signs off your skills to show you are capable of carrying out a given task.
How has scaffolding been challenging?
At first it is challenging to get your head around the processes required. Once you figure this out the work is really consistent so you understand how scaffolding goes in the future. The base understanding sets you up to work across any tasks. Overcoming this challenge meant talking to the guys on site, they often have a lot of experience and can point you in the right direction.
Puakari’s Apprenticeship Advice
What kind of person suits a scaffolding career?
There are all sorts of people who work at ISS and they all love the job for different reasons. Scaffolding work can suit a lot of different people, anyone who is open to heights and thrill. Sometimes having a fear of heights can be a good thing as you are more cautious and less likely to make silly mistakes.
What is your best advice for a new apprentice?
Show up on time, listen to your leaders and those more experienced then you. Don’t be shy to ask questions, people will be willing to help and will teach you a lot. Take pride in your tools as they are expensive if you have to replace them. At first I was careless with my tools and ended up losing some stuff and had to repurchase.
How do you approach your work life balance?
I try to come to work and do the job but then go home and separate the day. I make an effort to do what I want and things I enjoy outside of work.
On stay away this can be hard as you aren’t at home, but I take this time to gym as there isn’t much else to do.
About Industrial Site Services
The ISS story began in 1991, when a gap in the industry called for reliable, professional and innovative industrial services. It was then that Industrial Site Services Ltd (ISS) was formed, and continues today as a New Zealand owned and operated business. They have spent each year since mastering their craft and continuing to exceed their own expectations.
Their team of over 200 operate in four divisions, across three permanent locations, specialising in Scaffolding, Rigging, Rope Access, Engineering and Renewable Energies. Their dedication to delivering excellence has won multiple awards, and industry recognition throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond, gaining a reputation as the company to go to for the challenging, technical jobs.
Check out past ISS Profiles
