For immediate release
Industry and business support Careers Expo developments
A group of Industry Training Organisations will exhibit at this year’s popular Careers Expos. The Industry Training
Organisations (ITOs) will promote trade career opportunities to the 35,000 students and young adults attending at the
annual events.
This year the Careers Expo and ITOs are launching a new exhibition space with the aim to create an engaging platform to
communicate the diversity of job opportunities available and the importance of trades in the New Zealand economy.
“We really want school leavers to identify the benefits of earning while they’re learning, with the possibility of
working towards their own business. We will be showcasing many trade career options and providing tips for getting trade
apprenticeships. The Careers Expos provide a great face to face opportunity to get these messages across.” explains
Rachel Hopkins from ITO Competenz.
Five ITOs have committed to exhibiting together, showcasing their industries within a newly developed trade hub. The hub
will be staffed by members of the ITOs and host a series of interactive demonstrations by tradespeople. ITOs exhibiting
within the hub at the Expos include Competenz, The Skills Organisation, BCITO the Building and Construction ITO, the
Hair and Beauty ITO and the soon to be renamed Infrastructure ITO.
The Primary ITO for rural primary sectors and will be also exhibit alongside others from their sector such as Dairy NZ
and Young Farmers, outside of the hub but fitting into a refreshed layout launched last year. The new layout arranges
industry organisations, training providers and employers in five zones relating to their sectors, in line with the
Ministry of Education’s Vocational Pathways program.
The inclusion of more ITOs is welcomed by the Careers Expo’s director Mark Gillard “It is vitally important the industry
sectors are well represented at the events. We know it will be welcomed and supported by employers, additionally career
advisers in secondary schools are also very positive.”
“We have immensely strong relationships with universities, tertiary training providers and a growing number of large
employers see the strategic HR opportunity to engage proactively, encouraging a healthy talent pipeline for their
industry.”
The Careers Expos are open to the public with exhibitors including employers, universities, tertiary institutes,
training providers and government agencies and ITOs. The four events in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton
start in early May and are the largest events of their kind in New Zealand.
www.careersexpo.org.nz
--ENDS