N E W S
20 April 2018
Apprenticeships and training without the fees
“It’s no secret that there is a skills shortage
in New Zealand. We are here to support
businesses who want to grow their workforce
and upskill their people, and it’s a
great time to find out how we can help.”
Anyone who has not undertaken previous
tertiary study or training worth more
than 60 credits is eligible for fees-free
industry training.
Engineering programmes that are eligible
for fees-free funding in 2018 include the
National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
as well as the National Certificate
in Engineering Fabrication.
For any questions about apprenticeships
and industry training, call Competenz on
0800 526 1800.
Icnonmopvaretisosne +d air = Boge
In 2017, Boge invested more than
5% of its turnover in research and
development; around twice as
much as the average invested by
companies in the mechanical engineering
sector. “We increased
turnover and market shares, but
due to our long-term investments,
we suffered calculable losses
in earnings”, explains Boge ceo
Thorsten Meier. The smart factory
alone cost the compressed air
company around two million Euro.
“We have thereby created the
foundations for further growth,"
The government has made it more affordable
for employers to train people on-the-job
with two years fees-free industry training
through Competenz from 1 January, 2018.
This means the costs usually paid by
employers and apprentices in the first two
years will be now be free for some people.
Apprentices can check their eligibility at
www.feesfree.govt.nz before signing a
training agreement.
The policy came into effect on 1 January
and Competenz, the industry training
organisation for engineering, is already
signing up apprentices who qualify for
funding.
“There’s no better time to take on an
apprentice,” says chief executive, Fiona
Kingsford. “For people already working
in the industry who haven't completed
tertiary training before, it's an opportunity
to start getting qualified at no cost.
“Your staff will grow their skills and knowledge
and gain NZQA-recognised qualifications
endorsed by industry while learning
on-the-job.”
Data from economic research organisation
Infometrics indicates that approximately
half of the engineering workforce does
not have a post-school qualification. Of
those that do, only a fifth have completed
an apprenticeship, and approximately 6%
have completed a degree. A trained and
qualified workforce is critical for responding
to the rapidly advancing technological
revolution, succession planning and
economic prosperity.
Boge management - dedicate to reinvestment he says.
NHP announces
eWon
NHP has announced an exclusive
distribution agreement to bring
eWon’s wireless access routers
to the local New Zealand market.
The remote access devices
can identify and troubleshoot
performance issues.
The eWON remote access
devices from NHP allow you to
upgrade easily to new technology
and are able to connect to a wide
range of industrial devices for
seamless communication. From
utilities, agriculture, water and
wastewater to any other plant
application that requires fast
data acquisition.
Red letter day
for Red Stag
Red Stag Wood Solutions has
announced that it will build a
large-scale cross laminated
timber (CLT) plant at its 95ha
wood processing site in Rotorua.
The operator of the southern
hemisphere’s largest sawmill
sees the investment as a natural
next step to add value to its
timber, and as a key enabler of
the government’s social, environmental
and economic objectives
from its building procurement
strategy. It will launch in 2019 and
expect to be producing in excess
of 50,000m3 of CLT within two
years. That is the equivalent of
around 2,000 housing units.
Minister of Forestry Shane
Jones and Red Stag Group ceo
Marty Verry
/www.feesfree.govt.nz