Hot off the printing press

Levi Lindsey of East Tamaki’s MCC Auckland, a commercial label printer, has been awarded the BJ Ball Papers Print Industry Apprentice of the Year award at the 2024 Pride in Print Awards event in Wellington on Friday 12 July.

"Winning this accolade feels surreal," says Levi. "I always strive to put my best foot forward, but being recognised for my efforts is truly something special."

Levi encourages school leavers interested in technology to consider the print industry, emphasising its hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipmentand software. He highlights the industry's unique blend of technical skill and creativity, offering abundant opportunities for innovation and problem-solving.

“Doing a print apprenticeship means you'll work in a supportive environment with experienced mentors, making it an ideal career for those passionate about techand creative work. Print often operates behind the scenes, and it's important to highlight that this is a trade where school leavers can enter and succeed.

When asked about his favourite aspects of his role, Levi underscores the blend of creativity and technology."Working with cutting-edge printing equipment and software presents both challenges and rewards," he shares. "I value the collaborative spirit and the continuous learning and innovation opportunities inherent in this dynamic industry."

Print NZ Chief Executive Ruth Cobb states printing continues to be a trade that is pushing the boundaries of new technology, "some people might say ‘you don’t need skill to be a printer anymore’ – but there is a lot more to print than an ‘on’ and ‘off’ switch. If we are going to continue to stretch the boundaries and ‘wow’ people who consume print, we need to continue to master the dynamics of inks, substrates, colour management and finishing, to say nothing of the complexities of the front end.”

The final decision on the Print Apprenticeof the Year was a close race with George Cunningham (Allied Press), Anna Hodge (Be My Guest Design), Amit Shankar (Labelmakers) and Kathryn Wheeler (Freedom Plus) emerging as strong contenders.

“They were all so passionate. Everyone of them spoke with such technical detail about the work they brought along – highlighting again that print is a craft,” said Ruth.

“And a point to note about this particular group of people, who all graduated last year, is they pretty much completed their entire apprenticeship under the auspices of COVID and the disruptions that brought to workplaces, families and businesses.

Levi, whom Ruth graciously acknowledged had missed his son’s fifth birthday to attend the ceremony - said he was “truly honoured” in his acceptance speech.

“I want to thank MCC Auckland, formerly known as Adhesif Labels, my colleagues and my mentors for their unwavering support and guidance – this achievement is a testament to their dedication and belief in me,” he said

“To my fellow apprentices – keep striving for excellence and never stop learning. Together, we can shape the future of the industry.”

Levi was supported by industry training organisation Competenz during his four year apprenticeship. Competenz Training Advisor Grant Alsop said Levi was engaged in his apprenticeship right from the start.

“Levi is a very worthy winner of the 2023 Apprentice of the Year. He took great pride in producing quality assignments and always provided good evidence to show his understanding of the printing process and his ability to print top quality work.

“We would often have some very good discussions about assignments he completed and his passion and hands on knowledge of label printing was evident.”

MCC Auckland Technical Manager Haydn Mitchell expressed pride in Lindsey’s achievement. “His proactive approach, combined with consistently delivering top-notch quality work and keeping that positive attitude, speaks volumes about his dedication and work ethic.

“I was not surprised at all to see Levi excel in his apprenticeship. With his commitment and upbeat demeanour, it was pretty much a given.”

Levi, who is completing his apprenticeship through industry training organisation Competenz, was 25 years old when he started his employment with MCC.

“Looking back, it was a great time in my life to begin my career in print. By then, I had developed a strong work ethic and was ready to give my all to succeed.

“For now, I will focus on expanding my machine knowledge with the resources available at work. I also plan to further my studies in print and, in the near future, aim to start the next stage with the Level five Print Management Diploma.”

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