Changes for ITAB Apprenticeship Programme

Changes for ITAB Apprenticeship Programme

It comes as no surprise that the changes introduced by the Review of Vocational Education (RoVE) would have an impact on the Industry Training Association Building (ITAB) Apprenticeship Programme.

For more than two decades, New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) at one time or another has had formal industry partnerships with most of the Industry Training Providers (ITPs). More recently, 11 of the 16 ITPs nationwide have partnered with NZCB via ITAB to provide a creditable and industry recognised training pathway for employers and apprentices seeking a point of difference.

Post RoVE, training pathways and education delivery will change. The point of difference that ITPs have traditionally held over the Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) will be no longer. Eventually, every apprentice enrolling in a Carpentry qualification will have access to offsite training, learning support and pastoral care, which historically were only provided at a Polytechnic or Institute of Technology.

The merger of the ITPs and ITOs into one nationwide organisation, Te Pūkenga – The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, will help to address the shortfalls and limitations of both the Managed Apprenticeship model (currently provided by ITPs with ITAB as partners) and the historical BCITO delivery of training. The intention is that this will benefit the apprentice, employer, and wider construction industry, as the next generation of tradespersons will be better trained and more capable.

So, how does ITAB fit into Te Pūkenga? Simply stated, it doesn’t. Aligning with the scheduled conclusion of RoVE, from 1 January 2023 the ITAB Apprenticeship Programme will be unavailable to new apprentices and their employers. Any existing ITAB apprentices, enrolled prior to 31 December 2022, will continue to benefit from ITAB membership for the duration of apprenticeship training, regardless of whether or not the ITP remains formally partnered with ITAB, but conditions will apply 1 .

It’s important to note that any apprentice or employer that likes the ITP Managed Apprenticeship model can continue to use it; it’s just the ITAB component will not be available from 2023 onwards.

It should also be acknowledged that the new model, post RoVE, looks and feels a lot more like a Managed Apprenticeship. But importantly, it will provide the best bits of both training pathways and combine them into one nationwide model that caters for all learners, regardless of location, learning assistance, ethnicity, gender, or age.

The decision to withdraw ITAB was not made lightly. ITAB’s Board of Directors and Management sought consultation with effected ITPs partnered with ITAB and with ITAB’s Industry Advisory Group, all of whom agreed that, on balance, due the RoVE reforms, ITAB will struggle to remain an effective mechanism to support apprentices and employers alike.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom…

NZCB, as the leading Trade Association requiring its members to be Trade Qualified, has a strategic objective to support Industry Pathways and is committed to its members and the apprentices they employ. At the time of writing this article, the Board of Directors recently approved a new membership service for NZCB members who employ and train apprentices – The NZCB Apprenticeship Support Programme (ASP). The ASP will provide tangible benefits and support to all NZCB Business members and will see their apprentice employee become a trainee member of NZCB, extending that support and benefit to the apprentice.

I look forward to providing you with more details in the December/ January edition of InHouse.

Till next time.

1 Conditions apply – must remain a financial member of the ITAB Apprentice Programme.

Nick Matthews, NZCB Industry Pathways and Apprenticeship Manager