Dan Birks - EarnLearn

Apprentice helps power
business growth

Dan Birks from Birks Electrical

Employer Story

Meet Dan Birks

For Waikato business owner Dan Birks, taking on an apprentice has proven to be a valuable way to strengthen his team and build capability for the future.
After working as a qualified electrician for 20 years in South Waikato, Dan started his own business, Birks Electrical, three years ago.
Finding skilled, qualified tradespeople can be difficult for a rural-based electrical business, so when the opportunity arose to bring a motivated young person into the trade, Dan saw the potential.
“We hadn’t planned to take on an apprentice; it all came about by chance”, said Dan. “Matt’s dad mentioned he was doing pre-trade and was looking for some work experience, so he started coming in to help every Friday.

The fact he was prepared to come in, learn and work hard on his own time was a really good sign, so we ended up taking him on as an apprentice.”

Matt is now in the second year of his New Zealand Certificate in Electrical, training with EarnLearn while working full time alongside Dan and Shane, Birks Electrical’s other qualified electrician.
While taking on an apprentice was a first for Dan, support from EarnLearn Account Manager Jason McKinnon has helped him understand the training requirements and confidently guide Matt through his apprenticeship.
“Jason has been great at explaining everything. He’s a good communicator and was helpful in explaining how things like the workplace verification part works.
“Matt has found him really helpful as well, and he’s kept him on track with his on-jobs and all the things he needs to have done.”
With Matt now well into his qualification, Dan says having an apprentice is starting to pay dividends.

“As Matt’s skills and experience grow, he can take on more responsibility and complete some tasks independently, helping the team manage a broader workload.”

The experience has been so positive that Dan is already considering taking on another apprentice.
For employers, Dan’s experience shows how taking someone on for work experience can provide a valuable opportunity to identify someone with the right attitude before committing to an apprenticeship.
His advice for those considering the electrical trade is to gain practical experience and get a feel for the work.
“Try doing some work experience to see if you like the work; and give it more than a couple of days so you get a good picture of what it’s like,” he says. “There’s probably a bit more to it than you might think but there are lots of upsides, like the huge variety of work. We work on a lot of farms and factories, so it’s really varied and different every day.”
For Dan, taking on an apprentice through EarnLearn has not only added another set of hands to the business, it has also created a pathway to pass on knowledge and build the skilled workforce Birks Electrical will need in the years ahead.
Click here to learn about our electrical apprenticeships →