Sports Turf ITO - Future Skills Project

The NZ Sports Turf ITO (STITO) has been leading its industry through several research and industry consultation processes over the past five years around its Sports Turf Future Skills project. The outcome of this work will be the publication of the Sports Turf Strategic Training Plan in 2010, which will inform the 2011-2013 Investment Plan process.

The Sports Turf Future Skills project began in 2006 with an industry survey and future skills analysis. In the following year STITO undertook an analysis of census data to build on the research project and examine sector employment trends. 2008 saw the development of a draft strategic training plan strategy in consultation with the sports turf industry. In 2009 this draft was presented to the NZ Turf Conference, where delegates were also surveyed about the direction of the strategy. 2010 will see the results of this project and the publication of the Sports Turf Strategic Training Plan.

In 2006, as part of the NZ Sports Turf Industry Survey and Future Skills Analysis Project, industry sectors were surveyed to determine their economic characteristics and assess workforce skills and training needs. The survey found the number of people employed by the sports turf industry was significantly higher than that previously surveyed. Based on these findings, a number of recommendations were made for the advancement of training within the industry.

NZIER (a strategic consulting firm) was engaged by STITO in 2007 to confirm the size and scope of the sports turf industry by analysing census data. This study built on the previous skills analysis project and examined both the profile and employment trends of sports turf industry occupations. The result was a description of the occupations of the sports turf workforce at the time, which enabled useful comparisons with the general workforce.

The project was developed further in 2008 using funding from the TEC Sector Leadership Fund with the production of a Draft Strategic Training Plan Strategy in consultation with industry. The strategic planning process involved the identification of what must be done differently in the skills and training area to improve the industry’s long-term economic performance. There was also a consensus reached on the most important issues and risks facing the industry and the development of strategies for addressing them.

STITO presented the draft strategy at the 2009 NZ Turf Conference and a survey of delegates substantially confirmed the issues identified in STITO’s earlier research work, and endorsed the direction of the strategic training plan strategy and its proposed implementation process.

During 2010, MWB Consultancy Ltd has been engaged to analyse and synthesise information compiled, carry out a gaps analysis to identify additional development requirements and activities, and to complete the Sports Turf Strategic Training Plan. Subsequent development work carried out during 2010 has included interviews with National Sports Organisations (NSOs) and other key industry stakeholders to verify and update information, further analysis of 2006 survey source data, analysis of recent labour market and educational data, and the formulation of a Sports Turf Industry Qualifications and Careers Pathway.

The Sports Turf Strategic Training Plan will be used by a range of audiences including industry, tertiary education providers’ and Government. It will provide the reader with an outline about the sports turf industry, its characteristics (industry, labour and economic), issues and trends, current and future skill development needs and the identification of priorities for future development in a summary of key messages.

“This project has been valuable to confirm what the ITO needs to focus on over the next 3 -5 years in its leadership role as it works alongside industry to develop skill levels in the workforce”. (Jenny Lupton – ITO Executive Officer).