Portfolio, Apprenticeship, NZ

My partner is currently setting up his portfolio and looking for an apprenticeship in Lower Hutt New Zealand, problem is I don't think there is many artists in the area and it's really hard to get into the biz. So my questions are, What should he do to make his portfolio AMAZING?, What are artists looking for in the art work?, is there anything else he should be doing? and is it a really shit idea to buy a machine to get to know all the bits and pieces that go with it?? I would read through the threads but I have a screaming baby and don't really have the time right now, but any advice and information would be greatly apprectiated :)