2026HutchiesTrainingAwards
News
The 2026 Hutchies Training Awards celebrated the people and programs shaping the future of our business and our industry.
Held on Saturday night, the awards recognised apprentices, cadets, mentors and training partners who demonstrate the Hutchies Way through their commitment, attitude and capability.
Since 2004, the Training Awards have recognised practical, on‑the‑job learning as the foundation of long‑term careers. As an enterprise‑based registered training organisation, Hutchies continues to invest in hands‑on development that builds confidence, responsibility and future leaders.
This year’s nominations reflected the strength and maturity of our training pathways. From first‑year apprentices finding their feet to emerging leaders taking on greater responsibility, nominees consistently demonstrated reliability, initiative, teamwork and pride in their work.
#New award categories
In 2026, the awards expanded to recognise the broader network that supports training and development across Hutchies and beyond:
- Training Partners – recognising apprentices from other builders undertaking training with Hutchies
- Workforce Initiative of the Year
- Mentor of the Year
These categories reflect the growing scale of Hutchies Training and the important role our partners, mentors and regional teams play in developing capability across the business and the wider industry.
#Investing in future capability
The awards also marked the launch of the May Hendry Developing Women Fund, a new initiative supporting the learning, development and career progression of women across Hutchies.
The fund honours May Hendry’s long‑standing contribution to the business and reinforces our commitment to building future capability through inclusive, practical and supported development.
Learning at Hutchies is shared, relevant and grounded in real projects. It is about applying skills on site, supporting each other, and developing people who are ready to take responsibility.
Apprentices
Finlay Ross
2025 Apprentice of the Year
Brisbane / Ash Blake
Finlay completed his apprenticeship in 2025 and is already running his first project independently. He is highly respected by his team and the subcontractors he works with. Fin consistently considers stakeholder needs and actively supports other apprentices to succeed. Accepted into the Hutchies Site Leadership Pathway pilot, he shows the capability and character to lead teams in the future.
Oliver Hartwig
4th Year Apprentice Winner
Ollie brings a strong work ethic and positive attitude to site every day. He listens to feedback, applies it safely, and takes pride in his trade. Ollie regularly goes above and beyond, showing outstanding commitment and reliability. His steady development and teamwork make him a valued asset to the project team.
Coolangatta / Murray Emmerson
Bailey Caplick
3rd Year Apprentice Winner
Bailey is a standout apprentice with a consistently high work rate. He takes ownership of his work and shows exceptional reliability. Bailey demonstrates maturity beyond his experience and has stepped into informal leadership. His attitude, initiative and accountability mark him as a future Hutchies leader.
Brisbane / John Berlese
Drew Summers
2nd Year Apprentice Winner
Drew is a reliable team member who is always willing to help. He works confidently on his own and within the team. Drew actively seeks new challenges and is committed to developing his skills further. His motivation and work ethic set a strong example.
Southport / Jye Bailey
Jake Ryan
1st Year Apprentice Winner
Jake consistently delivers work to a high standard and always arrives prepared. He shows emerging leadership, strong professionalism and a genuine willingness to learn. Jake regularly puts his hand up for extra tasks and brings a get‑it‑done attitude to site. Nothing is ever too difficult – he gets in and gets the job done.
Brisbane / Greg Crittall
ExternalTrainingPartners
Charlotte Fray
2025 Apprentice of the Year
Livit Constructions
Charlotte has shown exceptional dedication, skill and professionalism throughout her apprenticeship. She consistently exceeds expectations through her work ethic and ability to learn. Charlotte demonstrates strong technical growth alongside emerging leadership qualities. Her enthusiasm and positive attitude make her an outstanding representative of the industry.
Jedd Thompson
Highly Commendable
Pro Builder
Jedd has developed into a confident and capable tradesman through commitment and support. He consistently delivers high‑quality work with a strong focus on safety. Jedd shows initiative, reliability and a willingness to support his team. His growth and humility make him a deserving award recipient and role model.
Cadets
Bailee Ward
2025 Cadet of the Year
Toowoomba / Sean Lees
Bailee is driven, committed and confident. She asks thoughtful questions, takes ownership of her work and consistently exceeds expectations. She has stepped into senior CA responsibilities across multiple projects.
Nick Clegg
2025 Cadet Runner Up
Brisbane / Greg Crittall
Nick is organised, reliable and detail‑focused. He communicates well, supports his project team and shows strong commercial awareness. His colleagues see clear potential for future project leadership.
Pat Dallimore
2025 Cadet Runner Up
Brisbane / Jamie Washington
Pat brings energy and positivity to his team. He is respectful, welcoming and mentors newer cadets. Pat has shown strong growth in accountability, confidence and resilience.
WorkforceInitiative
Hutchies' Toowoomba Cadetship Program
2025 Workforce Initiative of the Year
Toowoomba / Sean Lees
This new category recognises workforce development initiatives that operate across the business and make a meaningful contribution to developing our people. The Hutchies Toowoomba Cadetship Program stood out for its strong local focus and practical approach to learning. The program supports early‑career company members by combining structured guidance with hands‑on project experience. Cadets build confidence through responsibility and learn directly from experienced leaders. The program strengthens regional capability and creates clear pathways into long‑term careers at Hutchies. The Toowoomba Cadetship Program reflects our commitment to investing in people, supporting regional teams and building future leaders from within the business.
Mentor
Luke Hinds
2025 Mentor of the Year
Brisbane / John Berlese
In a continued display of excellence in his work at Hutchies, Luke Hinds was presented with the award for Mentor of the Year. Luke has been a bastion in site management for many years and is currently working with the John Berlese team, and was previously awarded Hutchies’ Constructor of the Year (COTY) award in 2024.
#Event Sponsors
