What is Industry Training?
Industry training is learning and skill development linked to the needs of workers, workplaces and industry.
Who is involved?
There are around 180,000 people involved in industry skill development and workplace learning every year. This is about a quarter of all people involved in tertiary education (all learning after school).
Around 35,000 businesses and organisations of all sizes are involved in industry skill development, working with 39 industry training organisations and a large number of education and training providers, including polytechnics and private training establishments (PTEs).
Industry skill development and workplace learning are organised by Industry Training Organisations (ITOs). ITOs are set up by industries, and recognised by government, and receive funding from both industry and government.
Employees at NCI Packaging in Upper Hutt, are working on the National Certificate in Printing: Formed Shapes (Level 4) with PrintNZ Training.
What does it cover?
Industry training covers most industries in New Zealand. For a full list of the 39 ITOs in New Zealand, and the areas they cover, see our Contact an ITO list.
Industry training (skill development and workplace learning) covers both the traditional trades, but also many new areas, in the services, primary industries, manufacturing, retail and government / community services sectors.
What do ITOs do?
Industry Training Organisations (ITOs):
- set national skill standards for their industry
- provide information and advice to trainees and their employers
- develop appropriate education and training arrangements for their industry
- arrange training that is appropriate for their industry
- arrange for the assessment of trainees
- monitor of education and training quality
- provide leadership on behalf of industry on skill and training needs.
What are the benefits of industry training?
Industry skill development and workplace learning are highly cost effective; for employers, for workers and for the country:
- for employers: government provides support for industry skill development that is relevant to the needs of firms and industry, and that leads to qualifications and standards set by industry.
- for workers and learners: workplace learning enables you to develop your skills and career in meaningful and productive ways. Learning while you work means you don't have to borrow in order to study, and you can continue to earn an income while you learn.
- for the country: employers and government share the cost, so industry skill development not only means we are addressing skill shortages, but it is a good use of taxpayer dollars.
The best place to start is by contacting an ITO that covers the industry you work in or in which your organisation operates. See the full Contact list of ITOs and the areas they cover to work out which ITO you should approach. If you are unclear, use our Contact Form and we will point you in the right direction.
In addition to getting involved in education and training, you can get involved in the development of skill standards and qualifications for your industry. If you are interested in these issues, contact the relevant ITO.
Finally, you can find out more about what ITOs can do for employers and learners. ITOs are always looking for more people's input.
Fulton Hogan in Gisborne has a number of modern apprentices in a range of programmes, working with Infratrain.