Working on the Emirates Team New Zealand racing boat was an apprenticeship highlight for David Wright, of Rocket Signs, in Auckland.

David, 22, completed his signmaking apprenticeship through CMITO in June. He loves the variety of his job.

“I wake up every morning excited to go to work because I don't know what I will be doing that day. I could be up a building installing channel letters or wrapping a car at the workshop,” David says.

“Signmaking is an industry where you aren't just in the workshop everyday. You get to work in a range of different shops and businesses throughout your city.”

David says Rocket Signs has been a great company to complete an apprenticeship at, with the variety of work that comes through the door.

“Probably the most interesting job I have done would be the Emirates Team New Zealand AC72 racing boat, where we wrapped the whole wing and most of the hull in graphics. It is crazy how many hours went into this, let alone the amount of vinyl and digital print.

“One of the most challenging jobs I have done would have to be our chrome VW stretch wrap. Rocket being one of the first companies in the country to use this media, there wasn't much advice out there on how to apply a mirror onto pretty much a bubble. Finding out how much the media could stretch without blemishing and how to not scratch it while applying it was tricky.”

As for the future, David is keen to keep building on his industry knowledge and experience.