Licensing a 'great idea', says first licensed external plasterer

The licensing scheme for building industry practitioners is a great idea, says the director of a Nelson plastering firm who has become the country's first licensed external plasterer.

Barry Galbraith, who has 32 years' industry experience, says the Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) Scheme means that ultimately only people who are competent in their trade areas will be working in the industry.

'I decided to become licensed because I believe the consumer deserves to have only competent or trade-qualified people doing work on their homes. The cowboys in the industry have damaged consumer confidence and this is one way to reduce that.'

Barry started a solid plastering apprenticeship after leaving school at 15. He now owns the company he started working for and employs 32 staff, and runs three other building-related companies.

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He has trained 10 apprentices over the past nine years and, as Chair of the Building and Construction ITO's National Advisory Group for Solid Plaster and Tile, he is a strong supporter of industry standards.

Recently, Barry gained the 4098 unit standard, which teaches people how to assess workplace training. He has also been appointed as an LBP Scheme assessor for external plastering.

A former boxer, Barry has been New Zealand champion six times and these days he enjoys travelling to watch big fights, with David Tua a favourite.

He also enjoys following the fortunes of a talented trio of daughters, particularly as they compete in dancing competitions. In July he will travel to Los Angeles for the World Performing Arts Championships where his youngest daughter will dance and the eldest will sing.

By becoming the first licensed external plasterer, Barry joins the ranks of more than 600 practitioners in the scheme who are licensed in one of the design, site supervision, or trade classes.