Five aspiring building professionals have returned from Outward Bound elated, after winning a place on the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) Specialist Trades Outward Bound Scholarship in September.

Ben Horn of Wihi, Joshua Inivale of Waitakere, Desmond Paseta of Manukau, Matthew Buxton of Tauranga and Rameka Thomas-Dorante of Auckland were all awarded scholarships, valued at $4,090 each. Each winner passed the course with exceptional personal development results.

The aim of the scholarship is to recognise talented employees in the construction sector and develop their leadership qualities and professional networks across New Zealand.

BCITO Chief Executive, Ruma Karaitiana, says, "The BCITO Outward Bound Scholarship is both a reward and an acknowledgement of an employee's potential, and is aimed at helping further their skills both in the work-place and in their own lives.

"To win a scholarship, the entrants had to have shown potential within the industry to step up and lead - as well as being physically fit enough to participate in the gruelling 21 day course."

Ben, a 25 year old trainee from Mitre 10, applied for the scholarship after receiving a recommendation from a friend.

"I had heard about the scholarship but it wasn't until I was given a gentle push from a friend that I actually applied. I was absolutely rapt when I found out I had won."

"The most valuable thing about the programme is building self-esteem and knowing you can always push a little bit harder and expand your limits," he says.

Desmond, a specialist cement and concrete worker, highly recommends the course, and encourages others undertaking BCITO qualifications to apply for the scholarship in future years.

"The life lessons you learn on the course are so valuable," he says.</a>

"One of the challenges was being dropped off at a random place in the bush and having to work out how to go it on your own. My only option was to learn to adapt to the situation and push through. It was a bit of a test, but that's basically what life's about - using your initiative and getting results."