Akesi's nomination came through with high praise from his employer, Acrow Ltd, "Akesi has shown a high standard of Safety Awareness and commitment while completing work safely", and saying that " Akesi has the potential to be a future leader in our business."

Our judging panel agreed, and made Akesi our 2023 Trainee of the Year winner saying, "Akesi demonstrates the positive attitude and leadership needed to succeed in the scaffold industry. He has demonstrated excellent problem solving skills and technical knowledge which together with his positive leadership style and communication skills make him a deserving winner of this award. Akesi is already a role model for his peers and his determination to succeed will take him to the top of the industry."

We're lucky to have a few words from Akesi to get some insight into our winner for 2023!

Firstly, how does it feel to win?!
I feel stoked and a little overwhelmed. I never thought I’d win an award like this and was just grateful to be nominated.

Can you share a bit about yourself and how you got into the scaffolding industry?
It started when I needed a job in 2017. I was in between jobs, still looking for my career when a family friend said his work (Acrow Ltd) was looking for workers. I went for my interview and the rest is history.

What attracted you to a career in this industry?
At first it was the need for money but after a few months in the industry I realised that the potential to grow and advance in this career was real if you really went after it.

What's a typical day for you? What do you enjoy the most?
First thing is pre-start where we discuss the hazards on site and the types of controls we use to manage them. Then it’s on to planning and figuring out what we are doing for the day and then I’m usually organising our gear to make the day easier. I enjoy learning new things and building new structures.

What have been some work or training highlights?
Completing my Level 4 Intermediate scaffolding ticket has definitely been a big highlight and running my first ever site.

What skills or qualities do you think are important for someone pursuing a career in the industry?
Good punctuality and a good work ethic, also someone who brings good energy to work and always wants to learn new things.

What/who do you think has contributed to your success?
My family, my team at work and my OP, Amos, have been big contributions to my success but my kids are my biggest drive for wanting to advance in this industry.

Are there any misconceptions about the scaffolding industry that you would like to address or debunk?
Not really.

What important advice or lessons have you learned while in this industry?
The biggest one is to be safe so you can always go back home to your family.

What advice would you give to someone new to the industry?
Try to learn fast, this trade is actually pretty fun and keep a good attitude.