Childers Road Roadworks
A move by EIT to train road construction workers is welcomed by Gisborne contractors in the face of the massive increase in regional road funding announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week.
“We are going to need a lot more people,” said Downer Gisborne branch manager Derek Walker.
“The industry is already struggling to attract people and the average age is quite high,” he said.
The programme offered by EIT would help get younger people interested and would hopefully help ‘‘fast-track them into their careers”.
“The announcement of an extra $137 million for roading is great news for the region but it will take us all a while to ramp up to meet that increase.
“Getting the right people in is not easy because we are competing with forestry. We definitely needed a strategy.”
Having localised training was definitely a step in the right direction, he said.
EIT will offer the New Zealand Certificate in Infrastructure Works from next April, head of school, trades and technology Todd Rogers confirmed.
The programme is a first for EIT. Planning has been under way for some time to meet NZQA and Tertiary Education Commission approval.
Local contractors have given the proposal 100 percent support, indicating they will welcome localised training aimed at ensuring new recruits hit the ground running.
The programme will be open to new entrants and existing workers, with at least one company already planning to enrol all its unqualified staff next year.
There will be both a 16-week full-time course and part-time study options. The part-time option is designed to cater to those already working in the industry, with evening classes and block courses.
Contractors are keen to have graduates who have all key licence endorsements, experience in using specialised equipment and a sound understanding of health and safety requirements and industry practices.
The level 3 programme will cover all these areas, with EIT supplying all the necessary equipment, either purchased or leased. Students will also be taught traffic management.
The part-time option will include some on-the-job training with work experience for those studying full-time.
The programme has the support of the Industry Training Organisation, Connexis.
“It will give those already in the industry the opportunity to work towards a New Zealand certificate. Newcomers to the industry will gain experience with all related hand-operated equipment and machinery, also forklifts, wheels, tracks, rollers on an infrastructure site,” said assistant head of trades Tim Jagusch.
Successful students would come out with F, R, T and W endorsements on their licences, as well as traffic controller and dangerous good licences.
“With the increase of work available, this will be a great career choice for those prepared to study, and we have a great network of support people to help them do that,” said Mr Jagusch.
There are 980 people employed in the roading industry in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne. This is expected to grow to more than 1200 over the next two years. Over half the existing workforce is aged over 45.The $137m boost comes on top of the region’s annual roading budget.