Letting his work do the talking: Gino Haynes’ flooring journey

Mosi Haynes, Gino Haynes and BCITO Training Advisor Shanish Datt

He’s also showing that there’s no room for prejudice in his business.

“People look at me and think, ‘You’re Deaf, can you really do the job?’ But once I finish, they’re surprised. Deaf or hearing, we’re all human. We can all do the work,” Gino says.

Gino’s entry into the flooring industry came unexpectedly in 2018, when a friend, Hamish Frost, from church reached out to him while he was visiting the Cook Islands, asking if he’d be keen to lend a hand with a carpet installation job.

“When Hamish first asked me, I said no. However, my friend from the Cook Islands encouraged me to do it, so I decided to contact Hamish and take him up on his offer. At first, I just wanted to help him finish the project. But the more I worked, the more I realised I really enjoyed it,” says Gino.

So once the project was finished, he stayed on working for Hamish. However, although Hamish encouraged him to pursue a formal apprenticeship, Gino initially turned it down, as the idea of formal study was intimidating. But when Covid-19 hit and work slowed down, his mindset shifted.

“With Covid in full swing and the world on pause, I saw an opportunity to focus on building my skills. That’s when I decided to take on a BCITO apprenticeship,” says Gino.

First working with the supportive Hamish, then for Carpet Court, all the pieces were in the right place to help him get ahead. Hamish and another colleague in particular, Bailey Davis, made a lasting impression by going the extra mile to ensure he felt at home on site.

“They went so far as to learn sign language to better communicate with me on the job. I was blown away. It showed that people were more than willing to meet me halfway,” says Gino.

His BCITO Training Advisor, Shanish Datt, also played an important role.

“Shanish was a big part of my journey. He helped me understand what to focus on and guided me through preparing for the block courses. He really made it his mission to support me.”

One of Gino’s most memorable training experiences was attending a BCITO block course in Christchurch, his first with a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter.

“Having an interpreter changed everything. I could finally ask questions and really take in the learning. That was a total game-changer for my learning and allowed me to go to the next level,” he says.

That saw Gino win the BCITO Villars Award for outstanding commitment and dedication while still an apprentice in 2022.

Achieving his qualification gave him the confidence to start his own flooring business, G8 Flooring, in 2023. It was a leap of faith that came with plenty of hurdles, navigating the complexities of self-employment, building a client base from scratch, and doing it all while managing the added communication challenges that come with being a Deaf tradesperson operating independently.

“Starting out was tough. A lot of people still prefer phone calls, which makes things harder for me. And when you're on your own there's no one to lean on, you’ve got to navigate everything yourself,” says Gino.

During slower periods, he kept up his learning, making the most of his time by expanding his skill set and enabling himself to bring a well-rounded service to potential clients.

“When things were quiet, I didn’t want to just sit around. It was important to keep learning so I could offer something new. I started teaching myself how to do SPC vinyl plank flooring by watching online tutorials and giving it a go.”

The success of his dedication to constant self-improvement is demonstrated by what he says was his most rewarding project. An exacting client with a high-spec, six-bedroom home had already let go of several tradespeople. Gino’s attention to detail won him over.

“It was nerve-racking, but I took my time and trusted in my skills. By the end of it, the homeowner was glowing with the job I did. I was so proud,” he says.

Gino has even applied his extra skills to his own kitchen floor at home. As someone who doubted himself, he’s now passionate about encouraging others with disabilities to pursue a career in the trades.

“Take the leap. Surround yourself with understanding people and don’t be afraid to lean on BCITO. They offer incredible support that can really make a difference,” he says.

BCITO is keen to help more motivated Kiwis find their passion in the trades, with targeted resources dedicated to supporting Deaf tradespeople and anyone who finds academic learning a challenge.

Learn more about how to get started at bcito.org.nz.