The Skills Organisation and NorthTec join forces

The Skills Organisation and NorthTec join forces

Electrical training first step in improving employment and Northland economy

The Skills Organisation and NorthTec have joined forces to increase training options for Northland, starting with training for the region’s electrical apprentices.

The Skills Organisation is among New Zealand’s largest Industry Training Organisation (ITOs). It represents 20 different industries, including 11 specialist trades.

NorthTec (Tai Tokerau Wānanga) is Northland’s largest tertiary education provider with its main campus in Raumanga, Whangarei.

Through the partnership, Level 4 off-job training for electrical apprentices will be offered at NorthTec.

The Department of Labour this month identified electricians as a high-employment prospect due to New Zealand’s shortage of trained, qualified electricians.

The Skills Organisation chief executive Garry Fissenden said the government was investing significant resources into greater achievement in trades training, particularly among Maori.

The partnership with NorthTec was extremely positive for the region, he said.

“It made absolute sense for us to partner with the major tertiary education provider in the region to deliver appropriate and available programmes that enable young people – especially Maori - to achieve relevant and necessary qualifications,” Fissenden said.

“This will contribute to providing them with a better life - and the region with the skills needed to grow the local economy.”

NorthTec chief executive Paul Binney said he was very pleased that NorthTec will be associated with a high-quality organisation like The Skills Organisation.

“In today’s environment it is important that education providers are flexible in how they deliver their education and are focused on the needs of the students and employers,” Binney said.

"All education providers therefore need to be thinking creatively in terms of solutions and this is a good example of two organisations working together to find a better way of delivering education.”

Fissenden said The Skills Organisation and NorthTec were investigating running training in plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying in future.

“We’re in this for the long haul, committed to growing both the quality of industry training and the volume of high-quality trainees,” Fissenden said.

“We’re not here to pretend we have all the solutions, but we are here to work with the people of Northland in order to help grow the region.”

Blair Tuke now ambassador for The Skills Organisation. Click here

ENDS

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