Completing a high-level qualification while working fulltime requires a lot of dedication, yet every year several thousand employees in industry achieve highly with little public fanfare. Companies supporting their employees through on-job training, such as apprenticeships, are equally dedicated, investing in lifting transferable skill levels throughout New Zealand industry.
To recognise the efforts of learners and employers, industry training organisation Competenz has published and distributed a Roll of Honour handbook.
It celebrates all graduates who completed Level 4 or higher qualifications in mechanical engineering, refrigeration, heating, ventilation and air conditioning and fire protection that Competenz oversees.
A total of 846 graduates from 536 companies nationwide feature in the Roll of Honour. Of these, 733 are graduates from the wider engineering manufacturing sector who completed their national certificates in a three to four-year long apprenticeship, and are now fully-qualified in their trade.
“All of our graduates can be very proud of their achievements, knowing their skills will stand them in great stead for their career development,” says
Competenz acting chief executive, Fiona Kingsford.
“Achieving a high-level, industrybased qualification requires just as much focus as anything you’d study at university or polytechnic, with the added challenge of juggling work priorities.”
It’s a small way of recognising the time and effort learners in the food and beverage manufacturing sector put into completing their training, and the role of employers providing employees support throughout their on-job and off-job learning.
“Companies also deserve to be recognised for their commitment to invest in training – a more highly skilled workforce with transferable skills benefits both the company and our country’s economic future.”
It’s a positive step toward meeting the skill gaps companies identified in research Competenz conducted last year on this issue. But according to the research, a further 3,800 skilled manufacturing workers will be needed by companies within the wider manufacturing sector by 2013.
“The only sustainable way for companies to gain the skilled staff they need is to upskill even more of their current employees, or take on new staff to train to your requirements,” says Mrs Kingsford.
“Competenz offers food and beverage manufacturing companies expertise in planning and training support to help meet their upskilling needs and business objectives,” she says.
Jackie Herbert of Vitaco Heath Ltd is one of the graduates profiled. A degreequalified food scientist, Jackie was able to quickly apply learnings from her business first line management training to her every day work.
“For me the motivation came from wanting to be a better manager,” says Jackie.
“I had the technical background but needed to upskill in the area of management.”
Jackie’s sentiments are echoed by many training industry graduates with HR responsibilities.
“Graduates’ stories show that training positively impacts the lives and career prospects of people at all levels of work experience, and it’s never too late to get qualified in your field,” says Mrs Kingsford.
