MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE - Monday 2nd MAY 2005
Research in three different areas proves invaluable for BCITO
The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation [BCITO] is the largest construction related Industry
Training Organisation [ITO], servicing over 7000 apprentices/trainees in our qualification areas - the bulk of whom are
apprentice carpenters [for more information about the BCITO, visit our website - http://www.bcito.org.nz/ ].
Apprenticeships within the building and construction sector have increased dramatically over the last 2 years. Training
volumes have effectively doubled over that time and the BCITO now has over 7000 trainees/apprentices [in training at any
one time].
The role of the BCITO has continued to develop over recent years - from initially being the organisation tasked with
setting the standards in qualifications in the building and construction industry, the BCITO has evolved to providing
more proactive leadership when dealing with skills-related issues that affect our industry.
The BCITO is committed to being a leading participant in the broader construction sector rather than just the
organisation that facilitates the training of those within in it, and the research undertaken by the BCITO contributes
to that leadership role.
The BCITO has today released three reports;
* BRANZ econometric overview;
* Workbase Literacy and Numeracy review;
* CBA Focus Group research - trade choices;
BRANZ Econometric Overview
For the second time in as many years the BCITO has commissioned BRANZ to report on building and construction industry
activity forecasts and the demand for skills by category. Says BCITO CEO Pieter Burghout, "The information gained from
this report will help not only the BCITO with its business planning for coming years, it will also mean we are able to
share the information with our clients, our stakeholders and other industry partners. The 2003 report provided
information on construction activity by region, including forecasts, and persons employed by trade group. The 2005
report builds on the earlier one by including the estimated number of trainees required to meet future on-site
construction demand".
Workbase Literacy and Numeracy Review
As part of a wider project the BCITO worked with Workbase to review the current situation in regard to foundation skills
within the industry. The report has identified a need to develop some clear strategies to raise the foundation skill
levels for new entrants to ensure that the level of literacy and numeracy skills could be transferred through to the
technical skills needed to work in the industry. The report clearly identified that the most appropriate mechanism for
integration of foundation skills and technical skills was the industry training system.
Workbase, which carried out the research/review, consider that industry training is ideal for raising the foundation
skills of employees because the setting within which the training takes place provides a unique opportunity for the
integration of foundation skills with the technical skills required on-site. It is an underpinning principle that
technical skills are best learnt in an industry setting, and it is Workbase's view that this applies to the learning of
foundation skills as well.
The next phase of work is to develop more action-oriented strategies to assist the construction sector address literacy
and numeracy problems within its workforce - to be completed during 2005 for promulgation in 2006.
The BCITO and Workbase acknowledge the support of the Government provided through the Tertiary Education Commission.
CBA Consulting - Focus Group Research on Trade Choices
The key purpose of the research was to identify how and why people choose one particular trade over another, and how and
why they entered the building and construction industry.
The meetings provided the participants with an opportunity to talk about their trade, their decisions around their
choice of trade and career, and also give some feedback on how to improve or change the system. It proved to be an
empowering exercise for all involved.
The full reports are available to be downloaded on the NEWS page of the BCITO website - www.bcito.org.nz/news.
The BCITO was set up following the changing of the Apprenticeship Act to the Industry Training Act in 1992. It is the
national body - recognised by the Government and appointed by the industry - to set the standards for qualifications and
training for the sectors the ITO covers (carpentry, cement & concrete, floor & wall tiling, frame and truss manufacturing, interior systems, proprietary plaster cladding systems, solid plastering,
and 'Health and Safety'). The BCITO is currently training over 7000 trainees in these areas.
ENDS