The association representing New Zealand’s civil contracting industry welcomes the government’s vocational education reforms announced today but cautions more detail will be needed to show whether the industry’s concerns have been addressed.

“Learners who enter our industry need support getting work-ready,” says Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Alan Pollard.

“This support is mostly delivered by employers, and our priority as an organisation is ensuring those who enter our industry are appropriately trained and work-ready, so our members have the workforce necessary to deliver the infrastructure our country needs.”

Mr Pollard says clearer entry points and a consistent and accessible industry induction and vocational training process are needed to enable people to join the civil construction workforce with the skills and knowledge they need for a successful career in the civil trades.

“Training for civil construction workers is nearly all work-based due to the skills and knowledge required to be safe and do a quality job. So, a strong and stable work-based learning system is very important to meet the real-world needs of learners and employers.”

Mr Pollard says the industry has been committed to the consultation process and has put a significant amount of time and effort into mapping entry points and skills pathways to ensure a skilled workforce for New Zealand’s future infrastructure construction needs.

It takes the industry around five years to train a new entrant up to be a multi-skilled civil tradesperson, and both training and qualifications needed more industry direction and support, particularly when infrastructure construction trade skills were in hot demand globally, offering great rates of pay and amazing career opportunities.

The industry had strong relationships with its education partners Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council, Connexis and private training providers. Changes must give these organisations the clarity and certainty needed to deliver successful outcomes for learners following restructure, he says.

“Industry’s needs have often been overlooked by the education sector, so it’s very important we identify what can work better. That is where Industry Skills Boards come in. These organisations will play a critical role in setting standards and identifying the way forward.”

Civil construction workers are responsible for building important pieces of New Zealand’s horizontal infrastructure including transport, water, energy, quarrying and mining and Mr Pollard says it is very important industries are given the lead on work-based learning, as the environments are often complex, high-risk and require specialist training from skilled staff.

While more detail was needed to understand how the reforms will work, there are some great opportunities ahead for industry-led training. Mr Pollard encourages the Government to work with industry to implement changes swiftly, restore normality to work-based learning and make the most of better connection with real-world jobs.

“We've been back and forth on changes to vocational education training for years. This solution needs to be cross-party and enduring, as more disruption would be a poor outcome.

“We need people with the appropriate skills to address our current infrastructure deficit and carry out the future work programme effectively. After years of reform, it’s time to get it right.”