Engineering companies across New Zealand could benefit from new apprenticeship programmes designed to upskill workers and ensure the industry remains sustainable, productive and competitive.
Industry training organisation Competenz has launched three new apprenticeship programmes in mechanical engineering, fabrication and mechanical building services.
They come at a time the engineering industry faces the challenge of finding more than 12,000 people to fill vacancies in the next four years.
Competenz chief executive Fiona Kingsford says industrial changes, innovations and automation are changing the number and types of jobs in New Zealand and, more critically, the sort of knowledge and skills people in the industry need to develop.
“At Competenz we’re acutely aware of the skills shortages and the need to ensure there are enough people for newly created roles as well as the vacancies created when workers retire or leave,” Kingsford says.
“Our estimates, prepared by independent economic agency Infometrics, indicate that we need to find at least 3,000 people per year across the mechanical engineering, fabrication and refrigeration, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning sectors.”
Kingsford says the apprenticeship programmes were designed in consultation with industry experts across New Zealand.
“We work with thousands of engineering and manufacturing businesses across the country and it’s their expertise that has helped us develop new programmes that meet their needs, now and in the future.”
‘Apprentices don’t grow on trees’
Barry Robinson, Chairman of the Maintenance Engineering Society of New Zealand (MESNZ) and General Manager of SAFE Engineering, has trained dozens of apprentices and says it’s vital for the future of the engineering industry.
“One of the biggest challenges facing engineering firms is making sure there are enough good people coming through the pipeline. And my question to businesses facing that challenge is, are you training people?
“If you’re not training people do you expect other people to train your staff? You’ve got to grow them, they’re not going to grow on trees.”
Supporting apprentices to succeed
Apprentices do most of their learning on-the-job and are also required to complete online eLearning and attend block courses for two to three weeks each year.
Kingsford says: “We’re really excited to offer a new support model to ensure apprentices succeed. As well as regular visits from Competenz, they can use after hours phone support and join study groups to network and tackle some of their eLearning together.”
Two years ‘fees-free’ industry training
The government has made it more affordable for employers to hire apprentices with two years fees-free industry training through Competenz. So the fees usually paid by employers and apprentices in the first two years are free for some people.
Last year Competenz signed up more than 450 apprentices who qualify for fees-free training.
“There’s no better time to take on an apprentice,” Kingsford says. “For people already working in the industry who haven't completed tertiary training before, it's an opportunity to start getting qualified at no cost.
“And for school leavers it’s a pretty attractive alternative to university – two years fees-free instead of one, and you get to earn money while you learn, avoiding a huge student loan.”
0800 526 1800
Photo: ATNZ mechanical engineering apprentice Caleb Orotaunga at Kraft Heinz in Christchurch
