Trade Training Centre success

. And a recent visit has again highlighted the fantastic success of this initiative started five years ago.

Did you know that last year 17 students enrolled in the Trade Training Centre, 17 completed the course and nine students found employment here in the South Waikato.

We're training our people and we're keeping them here! Wow!

A bit of history

The facility was established in 2008 through collaboration between Council, Waiariki Institute of Technology, Work & Income and the South Waikato Engineering Cluster to promote trades training and provide practical work experience in our district.

The project came about when industries in the district voiced concern about the lack of skilled labour available locally to support their expanding businesses. Youth issues also gained momentum around the same time when research indicated there were no avenues available for youth to move into employment in the district. Further research clearly indicated that a skills gap was severely affecting a number of important sectors that the community depended on for district growth and economic stability.

As a result of the findings, a skills gap strategy was established; and ways of retaining youth in the district and training them with skills that matched the gaps local industry had were investigated. The district's engineering sector was an early enthusiastic supporter of the Trade Training Centre concept. The team visited a number of facilities including one in neighbouring district Otorohanga. Various aspects evaluated and incorporated.

And so was born a highly successful three-way collaborative relationship. Council funded $90,000 towards the equipment and Waiariki developed a training programme and course model to match the engineering sector's requirements.

Later, in 2009, the course was re-evaluated by the Steering Group, resulting in an automotive component being added; and two new members representing the local automotive industry being included on the Group. This combined course brought a wider scope in terms of work experience and employment for the students. School leavers are provided training free of charge and the engineering and automotive firms are committed to employing local youth from the programme.