The Civil Trades certification scheme, developed by industry for industry, is transforming the civil infrastructure sector by providing a nationally recognised programme to accredit employees’ practical experience – with industry leaders singing its praises.

With a background in industry training organisations, Downer’s Graeme Couper has long recognised the value of formal qualifications in professional development. 

Since joining Downer five years ago as the frontline capability lead for the company’s transport and infrastructure division, he has been a strong advocate for Civil Trades.

“When I started at Downer, I pushed Civil Trades hard and got more people onboard. Since then we’ve put in a lot more workplace training support.”

Graeme says certification allows employees to develop themselves and have their on-the-job skills recognised, while for employers it ensures a highly skilled workforce that can deliver exceptional results for clients. 

“From an individual’s point of view, they get a sense of pride, build skills and it’s good for career progression.

“At Downer you’re more likely to become a foreman or step into leadership roles if you have your Level Four trade qualification and Civil Trades certification.”

He believes the scheme will become even more valuable as it gains wider acceptance across the civil construction sector. 

“If you’ve got Civil Trades, you’re a step above. People who gain certification demonstrate they have initiative and the ability to strive for something more.

“More companies should build Civil Trades into their programmes. Anything which raises the perception of professionalism in our industry is important.” 

Drawing parallels with other trades, he says Civil Trades certification should work in a similar way and represent the same level of achievement as becoming a licenced electrician, plumber, or Master Builder.

Among the Downer team who have gained certification is Operational Supervisor Lindsay Beals, who decided to become a certified Civil Trades tradesperson in 2019 to recognise his then 18 years of experience in the civil construction industry.

Lindsay welcomes the formal recognition of his expertise and experience and says it helped his career flourish.

After relocating from Auckland to Hawke’s Bay in June 2021 to join Downer as a construction foreman, he was promoted to a supervisor role. He says having his Level 4 qualification and Civil Trades certification under his belt lent weight to his application.

“It definitely helped in the interviews. While they were mostly looking at my work record and skills, having the paperwork to back up that experience definitely gave me and Downer confidence that I could do the job”.

Lindsay says having Civil Trade certification is “massive” for Downer.

“When we were doing subdivisions for the Hastings council, having qualified and certified tradespeople on site gave them and their engineers much more confidence that we were doing a quality job”.

Mills Albert Operations Manager Stace Keen shares Graeme’s enthusiasm for the benefits Civil Trades certification offers for both employees and employers.

Stace makes it a priority to identify employees’ strengths and weaknesses, providing tailored support to help them achieve their NZQA Level Four qualification so they can progress to Civil Trades certification.

“I really enjoy mentoring. If our people work towards completing all the modules and gain a Level Four qualification, we put them through Civil Trades.”

Stace’s hands-on approach has fostered a culture of continuous learning within the company.

“You never really stop learning – Civil Trades lets people continue the journey. We have all kinds of people currently doing certification, people in their 20s and people in their 50s.”

He says Civil Trades certification is a significant advantage in an industry where demonstrating capability and professionalism is crucial, especially when establishing credibility in the tendering process.

“When we bid for work, if we can show a high percentage of our water technicians are certified, it improves our chances of winning a bid.”

Stace also believes certification plays a vital role in fostering loyalty and aiding retention.

“I’d like to think Civil Trades helps with retention. By mentoring employees, you develop a relationship with them, and they don’t want to leave because of the support you’ve given them. It creates that bond – I’ve always believed in that.”

Leading by example, Stace completed his own Civil Trades certification in November 2023 to show the way for his team.

“Ultimately I wanted to do it because I wanted to inspire some of the guys working for me to do it too.”

His efforts paid off, with the number of applicants for Civil Trades certification at Mills Albert doubling the following year. Right now, five members of Mills Albert’s civil construction division are in the process of gaining NZQA Level 4  qualifications, and Stace hopes many of them both go on to gain Civil Trades certification as a valuable next step after that.

Graeme and Stace both agree Civil Trades certification is a win-win for employers and employees alike. For employers, it enhances workforce capability, improves retention and gives them a competitive edge. For employees, it provides a clear pathway for career progression, fosters a sense of pride, and builds valuable skills.

“Anything that shows professionalism and willingness to get to the next level and do a good job for our clients is a positive thing and

I absolutely encourage other companies to build Civil Trades certification into their training programmes too,” Graeme says.