New Trades Campus a Shot in the Arm for Construction Industry
Auckland’s skills-hungry construction sector is about to get a big boost, thanks to a brand-new trades training campus,
which opens in Manukau next month.
Aspire2 Trades is a 4000 square metre purpose-built facility which will deliver training in high demand areas such as
welding, painting, CAD (Computer Aided Design) and forklift operations. Set to accommodate around 500 students each
year, the new campus will help tackle the critical skills shortage in trades (construction, allied and engineering), and
provide pathways for those looking to launch sustainable careers in the sector.
According to Aspire2’s Nick Yerni, the new campus will bring big benefits to South Auckland, delivering fresh skills and
employment pathways to an area that needs it most.
“There is such a huge shortage of skilled trades staff, and we are having to bring people in from overseas to cope with
the demand. We need to be equipping locals with the skills for these roles,” Yerni says.
“Construction, associated businesses, distribution and engineering are booming in South Auckland and the employment
opportunities out here are significant.”
According to Business, Innovation and Employment Ministry forecasts, one in five new jobs created between 2016 and 2019
would be in construction, and Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) estimates 30,000 construction workers will be needed
in two years’ time. That means big opportunities for those wanting to launch trades careers.
Aspire2 Trades will focus strongly on Maori and Pasifika learners, and will also work with migrant and refugee
communities to help equip them with the skills to transition into the workforce. Plus, says Yerni, they’ll focus on
women in trades, delivering programmes that equally support both genders, and encourage more females to launch careers
in construction.
“We will take learners with no previous construction sector experience and in 20 weeks will equip them with the skills
they need to secure an entry level job in the industry or gain an apprenticeship.”
Owned by education powerhouse Aspire2 Group, the new campus will incorporate the highly successful NZ Welding School and
Cornerstone Education programmes. Kitted-out with the latest technology for practical learning, in an environment that
replicates the worksite, Aspire2 Trades will deliver hands-on training that meets current industry needs. They’ll also
support students to transition into the workforce through Aspire2 Work.
“The new campus is designed to be very flexible, and respond to employer needs – if there is a high demand for a
specific trade at any time, we will be able to offer a targeted programme in a very short time-frame. We will be
providing work-ready tradespeople and apprentices to an industry that is screaming out for skilled staff. In fact, we’ve
already got trades employers lining up for our graduates!”
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