Stephen Rolfe: Loving a new life on the tools

After losing his job in beekeeping at age 33, Stephen was lucky to have the support of a close friend during a very challenging period.

“I was made redundant from my previous role three months before my wife had our first child. Losing one’s job, having your first child in the same year mortgage rates were increasing dramatically, and starting an apprenticeship is a lot to happen all at once,” Stephen recalls.

Then an email arrived in his inbox. To help with the costs of his apprenticeship, he’d been awarded a BCITO tools grant, giving him $1,000 to set himself up in his new career.

“It could not have come at a better time,” smiles Stephen.

Often the biggest expense when starting an apprenticeship is purchasing the tools. BCITO offers 30 grants worth $1,000 each year to help eligible apprentices with this investment.

Stephen’s grant enabled him to feel more self-sufficient, no longer relying on others to help him out at a time when costs were adding real pressure.

“The ability to be self-sufficient and valuable is essential to me,” he explains.

Stephen describes feeling acutely aware of his initial lack of skills and the burden it placed on his colleagues. Yet, this awareness also fuelled his determination to learn and improve. One of the highlights of Stephen’s apprenticeship has been the practical skills he’s acquired, skills that will remain valuable throughout his life.

The versatility and value of the builder’s skillset were hugely attractive when he was considering his next career options – and the support available was another huge boost.

“BCITO has been great in providing the reading materials I need to learn about topics I might not be working on but need to know about. Then the catchups with my assessor, Jase, every three months help with understanding where I’m at with my apprenticeship and what I need to work on moving forward,” Stephen notes.

His focus is now on completing his apprenticeship as swiftly as possible.

“Supporting my young family is my only goal, and becoming a qualified and then licensed builder is the best way for me to do that,” he says.

To learn more about eligibility for a 2024 BCITO Tools Grant, and for info on how to apply.