A new joint venture aimed at lifting the quality and accessibility of vocational education has been unveiled by Registered Master Builders New Zealand and Builders Academy New Zealand.
This significant partnership marks a step towards developing a more robust and skilled workforce and offering more choice for aspiring carpentry apprentices across Aotearoa.
With a focus on building a strong, highly-skilled future workforce, both organisations recognise industry involvement is critical to successful vocational training and a thriving construction sector workforce.
Chief Executive of Registered Master Builders David Kelly says, “During a time when we are training more apprentices than ever before, choice of education providers is extremely important. Our partnership with Builders Academy reflects our commitment to providing more choice and greater industry involvement when it comes to training and talent development. Working closely with Builders Academy is an opportunity for our members to help shape how we train our apprentices to best suit the needs of our sector.”
The partnership is founded on a shared vision for inclusive vocational education and training. General Manager of Builders Academy, Glenn Duncan, explains its industry-led approach and deep understanding of the needs of building and construction employers.
"From our Board down, we are focused on listening to, and serving the building and construction sector. This comes through in our approach to education that has been developed with builders in mind.
"As we continue to expand across New Zealand, having a partnership with Registered Master Builders is central to our growth. We want to make sure that we are delivering in a way that suits and supports Kiwi builders.”
As Master Builders widens its support across the vocational training network, it will continue to work with other workplace learning providers.
Builders Academy is part of UP Education, the leading independent vocational training provider in New Zealand with a 30+ year track record across a range of different education sectors such as tourism, early childhood education, health and hospitality. Now turning its focus to the building and construction industry, UP Education aims to drive an industry leading education service for carpentry apprentices.
Builders Academy is built around providing best-in-class service to apprentices and employers, with a minimum of six site visits per year per apprentice, a favourable apprentice-to-trainer ratio, additional pastoral care and learner support services to enhance the overall learner experience.
Builders Academy now operates nationwide with over 50 workplace educators and over 800 apprentices on its books and is encouraging more to sign on with a fee waiver for sign-ups before 30 June 2024.
