Apprenticeship training – the latest RoVE update

It’s been 12 months since my last InHouse article (Aug-Sept 2020) on Review of Vocational Education (RoVE) and having just presented on the topic at the Waikato Professional Development Day, I thought it would be worthwhile to share an update with the wider membership. Specifically, what changes have now occurred, what lies ahead, financial support on offer, and the future for all of us involved with training apprentices.

What’s happened so far

Te Pukenga – The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology – has now been formed. The 16 pre-existing Industry Training Providers (ITPs or polytechnics) have merged into one identity, with each of the existing ITPs becoming a subsidiary. Those apprentices and employers who choose to train under the ITP model, it’s business as usual and you will see little to no change until December 2022.

The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), along with other ITOs, are transitioning to become Transitional Industry Training Organisations (TITO’s), however, you will see no change in branding or identity until December 2022. As with the ITPs, it’s business as usual for those apprentices and employers who choose to train with the BCITO.

WDC, CoVE, and RSLG

The traditional on-the-job training function of the BCITO will transfer into a new subsidiary of Te Pukenga from 4 October 2021. This will be called ‘Work Based Learning Limited’. It becomes another provider of training and assessment under Te Pukenga but will use the traditional BCITO on-site training model. The remaining functions of the BCITO, like the qualification developers, standards-setting authority, and assessment moderation, will transfer across to the newly established Workforce Development Council (WDC) for construction, known as Construction & Infrastructure WDC.

WDCs will provide skills and workforce leadership for the industries they represent, including identifying current and future needs and advocating for identified needs to be met. WDC will provide vocational education investment advice to Government, endorse provider programmes, and promote the benefits of educating employees to employers. There will eventually be six WDCs established with a target date of October 2021. Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) will be based at a Te Pukenga site and involve industry, providers, and other relevant groups, to share best practices and knowledge. Their role is to support the growth of quality vocational education through quality curriculum and programme design. Our industry’s CoVE is known as the Construction CoVE or ConCove. It was established in September 2020 and is based at the Manukau Institute of Technology in Auckland. Regional Skills Leadership Groups (RSLG) will have a focus on identifying support and future skills needed by a workforce. There will eventually be 15 RSLG nationwide, which are expected to be established by the end of August 2021. These will be locally-based and regionally-led. Their focus will be on the local labour market, providing insight into what challenges are being faced, supporting and engaging with communities, and reporting back to Government to inform decision-making policy.

By the end of 2022, we should see RoVE coming to an end with the changes having taken full effect. What it will mean for apprentices and employers is one standardised training model with one recognised qualification, nationwide.

Financial support

The Apprentice Boost is financial support employers can access via Work and Income to employ apprentices. Eligible apprentices must be in their first or second year and employers can access either $1,000 per month for a first-year or $500 per month for a second-year apprentice. The Apprentice Boost is available until 4 August 2022, although it is expected this could be extended to encourage employers to take on and train apprentices.

The Targeted Training & Apprenticeship Fund, also known as Free Trade Training, allows an apprentice to enrol into training under both a TITO or an ITP for free. Fees are paid directly by the Tertiary Education Commission to the provider and will be available until 31 December 2022. Again, funding is expected to continue past this date.