From a young age, Luke Brown's life was filled with the hum of engines and the thrill of speed. Growing up with a father who was a mechanic and a speedway racer, Luke naturally gravitated toward the world of cars. "I was always around cars, whether it was road cars or speedway cars. It just felt like a natural progression for me," Luke recalls.
As he matured, his passion for the automotive world only deepened. Working alongside his father and eventually racing in speedway himself, Luke knew that his future lay in the industry.
Luke started working at Penrose Motors five years ago and hasn’t looked back.
He has now completed MITO’s New Zealand Certificate in Light Automotive Engineering (Level 3 and 4) and was awarded a 2024 MITO and Inspiring Futures Foundation Business Skills scholarship. "It was really awesome to win that. I was pretty humbled. I've always wanted to have my own business, and this seemed like a natural step forward."
Grant, Luke's supervisor, has witnessed firsthand the qualities that set Luke apart. "He strives to do the absolute best," Grant says. "Whether it's his presentation, his racing, or his work ethic, he never accepts average. Luke always strives to do everything at the highest level."
Luke's recent promotion to foreman is a testament to his leadership abilities and commitment to excellence. "His team leadership skills have really come to the forefront," Grant notes. "When people see his work ethic and the standards he sets, it lifts the whole shop."
With Luke now in a leadership position where he can influence and guide others, he’s taking what he’s learning from the programme and applying it to his workplace. "We've got older staff, younger apprentices, and people from different cultures. It's been quite rewarding to figure out how to get the best out of everyone, using different strategies to connect with different people," he explains.
For Grant, Luke's development is not just about one individual's success but also about the future of the trade in New Zealand. "People are initially cautious about taking on new apprentices. They’re learning and they make mistakes - they’re only human. But we have to look at the bigger picture. It's important for the future of our trade to train our own people.”
Through it all, Luke remains grounded, valuing the support and knowledge of his colleagues and encourages anyone starting out in the industry to take advantage of that experience. "People are always willing to help and offer their advice and skills. You can't beat the knowledge from someone who's been doing it for years. Mistakes are going to happen, but don't be afraid to ask for help."
