Clean, quick and accurate.
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That's what Albion Park bricklayer Jack Jordan reckons is the secret to his recent success.
The TAFE Wollongong student was recognised for his bricklaying skill at the 22nd Masonry Contractors Australia annual Excellence in Brick and Blocklaying Awards.
Jack, who is studying Certificate III Bricklaying and Blocklaying, was announced Apprentice of the Year during a formal event at Doltone House in Sydney on November 1.
The award recognises the best bricklaying apprentices from around Australia.
The fourth-year apprentice brickie was ecstatic to win the award.
"I was pretty surprised to win apprentice of the year, there are a lot of good brickies out there," he said.
"I got the award for being clean, quick and accurate.
"That's something I've learned at TAFE, we slow everything down and concentrate on accuracy and levels, getting the bricks perfect to the millimetre.
"Doing this in class means I'm faster out on the job.
"The teachers really focus on the individual, teaching us everything about how to lay a good brick."
Jack said he enrolled in Certificate III bricklaying so that he had the skillset needed to get ahead in his career and be the "best he can be".
"I'll be a tradesman by the time I'm 20 and one day I'd like to have my own business," he said.
Jack was offered the job when he was 16-years-old and said it was something he had to persevere with at first.
"It takes a certain kind of person to do this, but no matter what the job, just stick to it learn what you've got to do and don't look back if you like it," he said.
Masonry Contractors Australia president Brendan Coyle said the awards' night recognised the best of the best among bricklaying and blocklaying apprentices.
"This annual award event truly is like the Oscars of bricklaying. It is well-deserved recognition to the next generation of bricklayers," Mr Coyle said.
He added the demand for qualified bricklayers was very strong.
"If I could get 1000 apprentice bricklayers tomorrow, I could find work for them all. We can't get enough skilled people," Mr Coyle said.
"It's an amazing career, you can travel with these skills and the money is very good."