News & Media
Got A Trade? Got It Made! Week begins today.
August 21, 2017
‘Got a Trade? Got it Made!’ Week starts today, celebrating 148,000 apprentices and industry trainees making a difference every day in over 140 trades and services.
These are skilled Kiwis working across our economy: building, repairing, restoring, manufacturing, farming, producing, processing, cooking, serving, hosting, entertaining, beautifying, caring, coaching, and supporting.
Got A Trade? Got It Made! Week - 21 to 25 August 2017
August 14, 2017
Young trainees and apprentices will be sharing their success stories with keen young kiwis during next week’s ‘Got a Trade? Got it Made!’ week.
“We want young people to know about the massive range of job opportunities that offer the chance to 'earn and learn',” says Industry Training Federation Chief Executive Josh Williams. “You can get paid and get qualified, and launch successful careers without racking up a student loan.”
Government focus on workforce skills is welcome
July 26, 2017
The Industry Training Federation welcomes the overall direction of the government's response to the Productivity Commission's Tertiary Education Inquiry.
"As Minister Goldsmith said, demand for skills is at 'fever pitch'. The challenge is to meet that demand, and to respond to industry needs," says ITF Chief Executive Josh Williams.
"We're pleased that immediate work will support smaller qualifications and micro-credentials, allow the system to deliver more personalised education and training, and allow learners to build up credentials in varied ways over time."
$50 million must support sustainable work and training.
July 12, 2017
The government’s $50 million fund to help get young people working in regional New Zealand is extremely welcome, but must support young people into sustainable employment and make it easier for employers to take them on, says the Industry Training Federation.
Today, Prime Minister Bill English announced that $42 million will fund the Youth Employment Pathways Programmes in four regions with the highest proportion of young people at risk of long-term unemployment. A further $8 million will fund initiatives to give young Maori the skills and tools they need to find work.
Apprenticeship boost is welcome and needed.
June 20, 2017
Today's $7 million boost for industry training and apprenticeships is welcome news for employers, industry trainees, and apprentices, in the face of skills shortages across the economy, says the Industry Training Federation.
Tertiary Education Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Tertiary Education Minister Louise Upston announced the funding increase this morning at the ITF Workforce Development Summit in Wellington.
Ministers, MPs, agencies, employers, educators, and Industry Training Organisations have gathered to discuss skills, work, and productivity.
Funding boost will help businesses upskill and upgrade
June 12, 2017
While Budget 2017's gains for work-based education and training were modest, the $3.5 million boost for employer-led literacy and numeracy programmes was a breath of fresh air.
"This funding recognises the productivity impacts that workplace literacy and numeracy programmes are having in businesses across New Zealand,” says Industry Training Federation Chief Executive, Josh Williams. “Over a million adult New Zealanders have low literacy and numeracy skills. This can create major barriers in people's work and lives.”
Budget 2017 offers little for skills
May 25, 2017
Budget 2017 offered little good news for workplace training and apprenticeships, despite high demand, strong jobs growth, and critical skills shortages across many areas of the economy.
There are currently 148,000 industry trainees and apprentices, making employers the largest and fastest growing provider of post-school education in New Zealand.
Apprenticeship boom is great news for everyone.
May 04, 2017
The government's confirmation that there are now 43,000 apprentices in New Zealand is great news for everyone, says the Industry Training Federation.
It's great news for the 43,000 apprentices, developing and applying their skills in the productive economy, earning and learning, on pathways to successful futures in industries crying out for skills.
It's great news for communities because apprentices are productively employed, trained and mentored by skilled people, and becoming future community and business leaders.
Apprenticeship boom is great news for everyone.
May 04, 2017
The government's confirmation that there are now 43,000 apprentices in New Zealand is great news for everyone, says the Industry Training Federation.
It's great news for the 43,000 apprentices, developing and applying their skills in the productive economy, earning and learning, on pathways to successful futures in industries crying out for skills.
It's great news for communities because apprentices are productively employed, trained and mentored by skilled people, and becoming future community and business leaders.
The infrastructure boost will be powered by skills
April 27, 2017
The government’s announcement of $11 Billion in capital infrastructure over the next four years needs to be underpinned by investment in skills and workplace training, says the Industry Training Federation.
"Today's announcement reflects ongoing confidence in a growing economy and will support jobs growth in many areas." ITF Chief Executive Josh Williams says.
"However, these are some of the same industries already facing major challenges recruiting enough skilled people to deliver the work".