Rangiora-based apprentice Hugo Carey recently took out the top national title in the Industrial category at the NZ Master Electricians Apprentice Challenge 2025, following his regional win in Canterbury earlier this year.

Hugo is completing his New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Level 4) at Skills Group’s Etco. He is employed by Skills Group and works for host company Nairn Electrical Ltd. At the competition, Hugo impressed the judges with his technical ability, precision, and depth of industry knowledge.

The annual Master Electricians Apprentice Challenge brings together the best electrical apprentices from across New Zealand to test their skills under real-world conditions. Competitors are assessed on a range of areas including fault-finding, wiring installation, safety practices, and technical theory.

Now in his fourth year of training and working towards becoming a registered electrician, Hugo says the competition was a chance to apply his learning on a national stage.

“It was a great experience to test myself against the best in the country,” he says.

“The Etco training has been excellent and the support from Nairn Electrical Ltd has been great throughout.”

As Hugo’s host employer through the Skills Group Employment Scheme, Nairn Electrical Ltd has been pivotal in providing valuable on-the-job experience across a variety of projects, helping him apply and extend his learning in real-world settings.

Skills Group – Etco Account Manager Malo Seumanutafa says Hugo’s success reflects his strong work ethic and commitment to excelling in his field of expertise.

“We’re incredibly proud of Hugo. His achievement shows the calibre of young talent coming through the industry and the value of high-quality apprenticeship training.”

Hugo’s success highlights the strength of Etco’s electrical apprenticeship system, which combines structured on-the-job learning with nationally recognised qualifications that lead to registration and rewarding careers.