Kia ora koutou,
As we head toward the end of 2022, it is timely to reflect on how much the landscape has changed over the past couple of years.
Investment in infrastructure industry training has grown a lot since 2020. Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund was launched in July 2020, along with the Apprenticeship Boost Fund. You, our employers, responded, taking the opportunity to upskill your teams and to have your employees’ skills and knowledge recognised with national qualifications.
That grew our learner numbers over 100% to 5200, a notable step up in growing the skill base of the infrastructure workforce.
At Connexis it meant we also grew our team to make sure we could maintain our service levels with that growth. Last month we also welcomed an additional 90 kaimahi from the former Skills Org TITO into our division as well as their employers and learners. This means we are now overseeing their learners and employers involved in plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying, electrical, cranes, scaffolding, rigging and industrial rope access.
Connexis has gone through other evolutions since the start of 2020, from ITO as the standard-setting body for infrastructure, to Transitional Industry Training Organisation (TITO) then to becoming one of the first vocational training entities to join Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning subsidiary.
By the end of 2022, we will make our final transition to officially become part of Te Pūkenga, the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, when the temporary WBL subsidiary is wound up.
Connexis has gone through other evolutions since the start of 2020, from ITO as the standard-setting body for infrastructure, to Transitional Industry Training Organisation (TITO) then to becoming one of the first vocational training entities to join Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning subsidiary.
By the end of 2022, we will make our final transition to officially become part of Te Pūkenga, the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, when the temporary WBL subsidiary is wound up.
The next change is that, as TTAF comes to an end on 31 December, the Fees Free programme comes to the forefront for first-time learners, providing up to $12,000 toward fees for eligible learners. This will continue to support pathways for newcomers into infrastructure careers, and should, along with the extension of the Apprentice Boost, build on the training momentum started by TTAF.
Under TTAF, TEC covered the cost of training for our learner fees. With this finishing in 2022, we have released our cost structure for 2023. The significant change we’ve made is that all costs to complete the training programme are included upfront, this includes the enrolment fee as well as assessment and block courses.
In simple terms, you as an employer will have better visibility of the full cost of putting a learner through a training programme and we hope this will assist with managing your year’s training budget.
Through all this change our commitment to providing consistent service and delivering quality skilled outcomes for our learners remains relentless. One of the most rewarding aspects to what we do, is seeing the success stories that come out of our training community around the country.
Annual Connection and the trainee Excellence Awards are always a great way to celebrate those success stories. After two years of Covid postponements it was gratifying to see Annual Connection back on the events calendar this year, with a fantastic three days of competition, networking and camaraderie in Levin, with our sponsor Electra.
Seeing our people gather together in a real-world event to showcase their skills – including our very first Ultimit all-female line mechanic team – was a great reminder about the importance of ensuring we keep finding new and exciting pathways for more people to learn about and join our industry.
The work continues. Over the next couple of months we can expect to see more of the Te Pūkenga leadership team confirmed while at Connexis we will be confirming our programme development priorities for 2023 and continuing to support the work required to step up the skill base of New Zealand’s infrastructure workforce.
Kaarin Gaukrodger
Director
Connexis – business division of Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning Ltd.
