News & Media
The baby is twice as big as the bath.
April 05, 2019
An opinion piece by Josh Williams, Chief Executive, ITF. First published in the National Business Review, 4 April 2019.
One week to stop apprenticeship reforms
April 01, 2019
This week is the last opportunity to make a submission on the Government’s poorly thought through apprenticeship reforms, Industry Training Federation Chief Executive Josh Williams says
ITF honoured by call for Māori leaders' hui
March 06, 2019
The Industry Training Federation (ITF) is honoured by the announcement that Te Rautaki Whakaroopu group of ITOs will convene an urgent hui taumata, hosted by Waikato-Tainui's College of Research and Development, to discuss the proposed Reform of Vocational Education.
The ITF, and all eleven Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) are signatories to a long-term Kawenata with Waikato-Tainui, signed one year ago.
Do not dismantle industry-led training and apprenticeships
February 13, 2019
“With today's vocational education reform announcements the Government is proposing to dismantle our industry-led training and apprenticeship system, says Josh Williams, Chief Executive of the Industry Training Federation (ITF).
The reform proposes to shift responsibility for arranging workplace training and apprenticeships from industry-owned and governed Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) to a single government-owned Institute of Skills and Technology.
New Zealand's great employers recognised
December 17, 2018
New Zealand's great employers recognised
The first nationwide campaign to recognise and thank employers who have qualified apprentices and trainees is being launched by the Industry Training Federation (ITF).
Employers, ranging from small family businesses to large multinationals, who had trainees and apprentices complete qualifications in the past 12 months, are being listed in their local newspaper as part of the campaign. All New Zealand’s 11 Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) are backing the initiative.
Drilling down into earnings myths
November 15, 2018
New research has again busted the myth that university graduates are always financially better off than apprentices and trainees.
ITF honours departing Careerforce CEO
November 05, 2018
The Industry Training Federation is today honouring the outstanding contribution of departed Careerforce Chief Executive, Ray Lind.
"We would like to thank Ray for the considerable and invaluable contribution he has made to the industry training sector in his seven and a half years at the helm of Careerforce" says ITF Chief Executive Josh Williams.
What’s the real cost of tertiary education?
October 30, 2018
New analysis exposing the real cost to taxpayers of tertiary education shows that work-based traineeships and apprenticeships are the most cost-effective and efficient way to provide the skills and qualifications New Zealand needs.
“We believe that the current tertiary system is overly skewed towards institutional learning, and these numbers bear that out,” says Josh Williams Industry Training Federation (ITF) Chief Executive.
Great to see action on skills
October 04, 2018
The ITF welcomes the government’s announcements today confirming the elements of the Construction Skills Action Plan.
Earn and Learn is the smart choice for today's school leavers
August 20, 2018
School leavers who engage in apprenticeships and trades training are making a smart choice which will set them up for a lucrative and rewarding future.The national “Got A Trade? Got It Made!” campaign kicks off today. It highlights the advantages of an on-the-job tertiary education, introduces young people to industry training organisations (ITOs) who can put them on the earn and learn pathway, and connects school leavers to employers who want to invest in their future.“Jobs are changing, but skilled trades and human services have a secure future as these are the hardest to automate.