New Pathways: Training changes for tradies
September 26, 2024
The way we train up our tradespeople is set to change again. The Government is currently consulting on how training will be done, how it’s funded, who sets the required standards, and how those standards will be assessed. The aim of these changes is to create stronger career pathways into vital industries across the country.
What will the changes look like? There are three broad proposals:
1. The old Institutes of Technology and polytechs (ITPs) will no longer be centralised in one organisation, returning to the situation pre-Te Pūkenga. Those that can stand on their own financially will be able to do so. Those that can’t, would become part of the Open Polytech. This would address the financial challenges some training institutions were facing.
2. The second proposal includes two options. The first would see the creation of industry training boards to set educational standards and deliver the training. This option sees the current Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) and Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) combined. They would be Government-owned, with 80% industry representation on the Board. Students would shift from Te Pūkenga to the new industry training boards.
The second option is for a standalone standard-setting body to be set up – essentially a reduced version of the current WDC, which would remain Government-owned. The delivery of training would then be carried out by standalone providers. This would include the current ITOs becoming private industry training providers with no Government ownership. Training can also be offered by polytechs.
3. The final proposal is about the funding. Acknowledging that classroom-based learning is more expensive than learning on the job, ITOs will receive less funding than they do now – similar to the pre-Te Pūkenga approach.
While consultation has now closed, you can find more information about the potential changes here. It's important to note that nothing will change until 2026.
While construction pipelines have come back a bit since the post-Covid boom, it’s still crucial to keep training new workers to strengthen the industry for the future. For working tradies, getting a qualification or supervisor certification is a great way to get ahead and boost your career options. The New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trades – Supervision (Level 5) is a great option for those on the path to becoming supervisors. It's also ideal for current supervisors wanting to upskill.
Making education available to your team members is vital to keeping them around. While the current economy makes it tough to keep raising wages, career growth opportunities are invaluable. In the latest Workplace Wellbeing survey by nib and the Employers and Manufacturers Association, 73% of workers wanted more learning opportunities and career development strategies. Employers should consider offering support with training as an important tool for staff retention and recruitment. For employers, having qualified supervisors on the job also allows you to pitch for more lucrative work.
New options have recently sprung up, including BCITO’s Trade Supervisory qualifications or Builders Academy’s site supervisor course for those ready to take on a leadership role and help others go further. This course allows students to specialise in residential or commercial construction, as well as related trades, with a more advanced Level 6 Diploma in Construction Management offered through Open Polytech and some local training institutions.
For more information around what’s available, check with your industry association, Open Polytech, Builders Academy or the BCITO website. The good news is, they have a lot of resources for learners as well as employers on how to support workers through study, with grants and other support available as well. Until the end of the year, BCITO is also offering a year’s free training for everyone who signs up to an apprenticeship or supervisor certification.
