"From our conversations with Whanganui employers skills gaps, especially for highly skilled roles, are a major issue keeping many of our businesses from expanding to their full potential. This means our residents are also kept from reaching their full potential.
"Our growing population means we have a pressing need for more training opportunities, especially in areas that speak to the strength of our economy.
"Our education providers are already contributing to the city and wider community. Private tertiary operators support specialised career pathways, while the Whanganui UCOL campus has a training legacy in the creative, healthcare and food spaces. The work and knowledge of Whanganui's high quality lecture staff has built successful programmes across a range of in-demand disciplines.
"We understand that the current funding model and structure has been holding back further expansion of programmes in Whanganui, which is another reason we're looking forward to the reform."
Kelly sees a great opportunity for Whanganui's UCOL campus, as part of the NZIST, to play an innovative role in creating bite-sized chunks of education and training to help raise the skill level of the existing workforce.
Whanganui & Partners will continue its close relationship with UCOL and businesses to ensure the upcoming reforms elevate the local campus.
The formation of the workforce development councils, as well as the first two centres of vocational excellence, was of particular interest. The workforce development councils will provide industry with greater leadership across vocational education and training, including for construction and infrastructure, and primary industries.
Kelly said both sectors were relevant to Whanganui.