Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) recently recognised and celebrated the success of five of its

Apprentices, who collectively graduated as top of their classes in the 2016 National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC) calendar.

The NTPC offered twenty-four trade awards in the 2016 Trade Apprenticeship Programme, sixteen of which were scooped by the FSC apprentices.

In congratulating the apprentices CEO Graham Clark said, “FSC has had a long history of graduates in the Apprenticeship programme, having initiated the programme in 1963 by the then Sugar Pacific Sugar Mills.

Additionally, the success of these apprentices has come about in a time when the Lautoka Mill has enjoyed an outstanding turnaround; significantly so as these apprentices are all based in the Lautoka Mill”.

A total of five Apprentices were awarded best in class in their various trade categories.

Shaneel Prasad was awarded the 2016 Overall Best Apprentice of the Year and Best Apprentice in Fitting and Machining. 1st Runner Up was awarded to Nitin Mukesh Kumar who was also awarded the Best Apprentice in the Welding and Fabrication trade. The other three were Mun Swamy Gounder, awarded Best Apprentice in Electrical; Krishmal Sharma awarded the Best Apprentice in Carpentry and Prashneel Prakash awarded Best Apprentice in Electronics.

The apprentices’ progress over the three to four years was closely monitored by the Lautoka

Mill Human Resources & Training department and assisted in great detail by the Fiji National

University’s National Training Productivity Centre Apprentice division. Their performance was monitored on a monthly basis and feedback was given so as to gage their own progress and make necessary improvements where appropriate.

Individual performance improvement plans were also developed to assist them better understand areas of improvement.

Additionally, there was a coaching and mentoring programme initiated which focused on areas like leadership, attitude, discipline and attendance, contributing to their personal development.

Fiji Sugar also acknowledged the immense contribution of the Lautoka management team including the supervisors, team leaders and foremen who assisted in the development of these apprentices over these last four years. Their mentorship and guidance enabled these cadets to graduate with honours in the 2016 Apprenticeship programme.

The company last won the Overall Apprentice Award in 2014, which was won by apprentices in the Rarawai Mill. Lautoka Mill apprentices last won this award ten years ago in 2007.

Other FSC apprentices who have also been awarded Best Apprentices in their trades

Rizan Mohammed – Best Apprentice in Heavy Mobile Plant MechanicTrishneel Manish Pillay – Best Apprentice in Plumbing, both based at our Rarawai Mill
Kavinesh Krishneel Pillay – Best Apprentice in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning,

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