More ITOs offer support

Skills Active and and Tranzqaul are the latest ITOs to develop special packages to help workplaces through tough economic times.

Skills Active has announced a Small Enterprise Training Relief Fund totaling $100,000 to give grants to help small and medium sized enterprises which may have had to cancel their training without extra support.

Tranzqual's Jump Start programme offers employers the chance to jump start staff training, through a support package that further reduces the cost of investing in national qualification training by up to $400 per person.

Apparel and Textile ITO in knitting project

The Apparel and Textile ITO is taking part in a small but innovative project to teach Levin locals knitting skills - with an eye on skills needed to support the local textile industry.  The ITO is in partnership with Work and Income New Zealand, the Horowhenua Learning Centre, and the Levana factory to put eight unemployed locals through a ten-week machine knitting course.  

"This is a remarkable example of how collaborative partnerships involving ITOs can work to support the growth of export opportunities for industry," says Mike Gorinski CEO of the Apparel and Textile ITO (ATITO).   Read more.

Success of industry training

Latest official statistics continue to show the success of industry training.

The information, from a range of government agencies, show that trainees on average receive more credits than required for the minimum credit load on a National Certificate, and and those who take part in industry training on average receive increased pay and increased job retention.

For a summary of achievement in industry training, you can download the latest fact sheet from the Industry Training Federation website.

Call for abstracts for research forum

The deadline for abstracts for next year's Vocational Education and Training Research Forum in Wellington closes on 4 December.

The forum will be held on 14-15 April and is likely to attract more than 200 participants.  The Federation will be accepting papers on a wide range of skills, workplace, professional, and vocational education-related topics, and welcomes papers on work in progress as well as completed research.  More information

Gateway to success

MITO's 'Golden Hammer' collision repair apprentice of the year got his start in the industry through the Gateway programme.

But the road to success for Taupo man Te Iwi Biddle has had its share of tragedy.  Read his inspiring story here.