Andrew attended Verdon College for three years before enrolling in the Level 2 National Certificate in General Engineering at the Southern Institute of Technology. During this pre apprenticeship course Andrew did one day a week on work experience in an engineering workshop which helped him confirm that engineering was for the right career path for him.

Andrew successfully applied to Southern Group Training for an apprenticeship. He has his own Training Manager who has developed an individual training plan for him which sets realistic goals and timeframes to achieve them in. The Training Manager meets with Andrew on a regular basis and is available as a mentor to both Andrew and his employer

The practical elements of his qualification are taught in the workplace and through annual three weekly block courses at S.I.T. The theory elements are taught through weekly evening classes. Once Andrew has completed the theory assessment for a unit standard he is then able to be assessed in the practical elements, providing that he is able to prove that he is competent in the various tasks.

To achieve practical competency Andrew must be able to complete the required practical tasks consistently well, unsupervised, in a commercial timeframe, using safe work practices. This level of competency is gained through practical work experience on job and through a series of block courses.