"UCOL had pulled out of its role in trades training and, at the same time, YMCA and the Wanganui District Council recognised something needed to happen. That's where it started," he said.
Mr Ritchie was recruited in June 2010, bringing with him skills as a New Zealand Army tutor and the first course started late the same year.
Funding structures have changed and 44 week courses dropped back to 26 weeks but that hasn't affected the achievements from the Gilberd St training centre.
"What industry wanted was an organisation to prepare these young people with enough skills to give them a head start when they turned up for work," Mr Ritchie said.
"Future employers wanted these kids to have a good work ethic, be competent, punctual, all the things employers wanted. So we worked that into the course."
The students learn all of the above, as well as public speaking, health and safety, nutrition and budgeting advice.
"When the kids leave here, they're pretty confident, and have good skills learned on and off the shop floor," he said.
The YMCA, as the private training provider, pays the wages of the tutors, the running costs, materials for courses and the administration. INTRANZ provides the building and pays the rent, while the Wanganui District Employment Training Trust owns the equipment.
Over time, more local industries have come on board, with about 36 companies loosely associated with the courses.
"We can't promise these kids jobs but we know what skills they pick up here is invaluable. That's the feedback we're getting directly from those businesses."
The course environment tries hard to emulate the true-to-life work experience graduates soon step into. And there are strict rules.
"If they don't turn up, they have to let us know why. If they miss a couple of days, we're asking for the doctor's certificate. If they muck around, there's a verbal warning, second time, a written warning and third time, they're out the door," Mr Ritchie said.
"This course is free to the students but in return, we expect certain standards to be met."
Of all the graduates through the courses, 84 per cent have found full-time work or apprenticeships. That's not a bad strike rate.
Not all are accepted to the courses and some are whittled out along the way but Mr Ritchie said the ones who graduate are worth the investment.
He said the intent would be to expand the courses but the key will be funding.
"The local industries have been hugely obliging. When I started, there were about five companies we could turn to but now we can tap into about 36 of them.
"The point is these kids can leave here and show prospective employers they've got some real credibility. The industries are coming to us now saying what they're looking for.
"The thing is the signs are good for the economy and our industries, so there will be huge demand for these graduates," Mr Ritchie said.
