Leading ITO Backs New Training Policy

MEDIA RELEASE
May 16, 2000

Leading ITO Backs New Training Policy

New government policy to encourage a reduction in the number of industry training organisations and ensure a secure future for apprentices and trainees has found favour with one of the country’s leading ITOs.

NZ Engineering, Food and Manufacturing ITO chief executive officer John Broadhead says mergers of smaller ITOs to form larger organisations should be embraced rather than condemned because aggregation is vital to ensure the training industry is effectively represented in the future.

“Some smaller ITOs are concerned mergers to form larger organisations will jeopardise their identities as well as the industries they represent. However we believe aggregation is the right way to guarantee quality training,” he says.

In line with that NZEFMITO, one of the three largest ITOs in the country and itself a product of two major mergers, has undertaken a rebranding campaign and today announced its new trading name – COMPETENZ.

“We wanted to have a generic, all encompassing name that explained what we do as well as our core values of learn, achieve and succeed,” says Mr Broadhead. “Our former name did not recognise the current nature of the organisation which now represents more industries. COMPETENZ demonstrates a modern approach to industry training requirements, concentrating on strong support systems for industries, companies and employees.”

COMPETENZ represents a number of engineering, food, manufacturing and maritime trades and from December 1998 to December 1999 saw a 36.6 percent increase in trainee numbers. It also developed seven new qualifications bringing its total number registered on the National Qualification Framework to 35.

“These achievements are a direct result of our strength as a diverse organisation following aggregation and identities are in tact because each industry has its own ‘stream’ and decisions such as qualification design are made by the same groups as under one ITO,” says Mr Broadhead.

There are 51 recognised ITOs in New Zealand and current government policy is to encourage mergers to bring that number down to around 20 to 25.

Released on behalf of COMPETENZ by Porter Novelli New Zealand (Auckland).
For further information please contact:

John Broadhead COMPETENZ 09 525 5400
or
Carolyn Wellburn Porter Novelli New Zealand (Auckland). 09 373 3786

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