Growth Mindset Helps Precast Apprentice Take Home 2023 Concrete Industry Award
Wednesday, 4 October 2023
Franklin South Auckland apprentice Caleb Van De Westerlo, of Waiuku based Formstress Precast, has won the 2023 Concrete Industry Apprentice of the Year award.
Dene Cook (Concrete NZ), Caleb Van De Westerlo (Formstress) and Greg Durkin (BCITO | Te Pūkenga).
After completing his OE Caleb returned to Aotearoa in 2018 to start an apprenticeship with Formstress, progressing quickly after he approached manager and mentor Greg Johnston seeking a structured programme of exposure to important aspects of the business.
Impressed by his ambition, Formstress put in place a plan that has ended with Caleb identified as a future leader. This pathway included positioning Caleb to fill the next available foreman position, rotating him through batching, quality assurance, dispatch
and precast manufacture, and also gaining a National Certificate in Precast Concrete Level Three and a New Zealand Certificate Concrete Specialist Level Four.
In fact, Caleb is the first person and the first of Māori descent to gain the new level 4 certificate.
Caleb Van De Westerlo along with the Formstress Precast team.
“This is the mindset with which Caleb completes all tasks. It is not enough to finish the course, he had to be first,” says Greg Johnston.
Caleb firmly believes that all Formstress employees would benefit from industry qualifications and has already helped four of his direct reports through their level three certificates. He himself is now being supported as a future senior manager and stands
in for the company’s operations manager as required.
“Showing the guys his own progression is important in motivating them to better themselves. Caleb understands that the mentoring he is receiving is an important part of his development, and he passes the same effort and time on to his staff,” says Greg.
Caleb says a growth mindset is the most important attribute for an apprentice. “You must understand mistakes will happen and accept these are all important lessons that will occur in the process.
“You need to be able to set goals and have a clear vision for your future, not just at work but at home too. The days on site don’t get easier. You become better.”
Caleb Van De Westerlo with his father Theo and partner Rachel.
Caleb says he would encourage others to consider being a tradie as a career option, as he has found it “really fulfilling and interesting.” Concrete NZ chief executive Rob Gaimster says apprentices with Caleb’s approach to challenges and setbacks are
vital to keep the industry innovating, improving, and becoming more efficient at a site level.
“Caleb’s swift progression within Formstress and bright future shows there are great prospects and supportive workplaces that enable energetic young people to get ahead in the concrete industry.
“There are real opportunities to make a difference and secure a rewarding future that don’t necessarily depend on a university degree.”
Director Greg Durkin, BCITO | Te Pūkenga reflected that, “Since its inception in 2016, the Concrete Industry Apprentice of the Year award has proved its worth as an important tool to celebrate apprentice success, the importance of trade training and the
value of employer and family support.”
“Caleb’s achievement is impressive. We salute his accomplishments in this highly skilled and technical trade, and also his leadership as a successful tradesperson. Ka mau te wehi | how fantastic Caleb!”
The award was open to all those enrolled in, or who had recently completed, one of the BCITO | Te Pūkenga concrete apprenticeships.
The Concrete Industry Apprentice of the Year award was made possible thanks to major sponsors Concrete NZ and BCITO | Te Pūkenga.
2023 Conference Awards
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