ITAB
NZCB Building Professionals Programme Article by NZCB & ITAB Building Development Manager, Nick Matthews.
Are you thinking about taking up a building apprenticeship, or do you know someone who is? This is a great time to do it, with strong demand for builders, Government initiatives to attract people to trade training, and the industry also actively encouraging people to choose this career path through a range of initiatives. One example is the Building Professionals Programme, run by NZCB and ITAB, supported by ITM and other trade partners, which helps overcome one of the barriers – the costs of the resources and tools of the trade that apprentices need. Under the Building Professionals Programme, any first-year apprentice enrolling in ITAB carpentry training, which is provided by a range of polytechnics across the country, receives free tools, a free subscription to the NZCB: In House magazine, insurance deals, and discounts from suppliers. In 2017 over 350 toolkits were provided to new apprentices, and the initiative has fuelled uptake of ITAB apprentice training.
ITAB is an apprenticeship scheme founded by NZCB to improve industry standards and provide high quality training. More comprehensive than shorter schemes, ITAB provides approximately 8,000 hours (over four years) of solid theoretical training as well as extensive practical experience, giving apprentices a broad set of essential professional skills. NZCB is one of NZ’s two building trade associations and the only one that requires a formal trade qualification as a pre-requisite for membership because of its focus on lifting standards in the building industry. It is in this context that NZCB supports ITAB and the Building Professionals Programme to encourage people to take up comprehensive trade training. Those who complete their ITAB apprenticeship get one year’s free membership of NZCB, which provides a range of benefits to its members including ongoing skills development opportunities.
Queenstown Engineering
SCNZ certified Queenstown Engineering recently became the first company in the Wakatipu basin and Central Lakes district to achieve the SCNZ Certified Steel Fabricator qualification, meaning they’re certified to manufacture structural steelwork according to international best practices.
The company had a change of ownership in 2006 and again in May 2009. The current directors of Queenstown Engineering are Allan Foote and Justin Taylor.
With a population of only 28,000 in Queenstown, the team mostly works on a wide variety of different sized projects. Their service is focused around construction and supplying building contractors, says director Allan Foote.
In 2015 they opened the Queenstown Engineering Bolt Store – a showroom with a full range of EDL Fasteners nuts, bolts and screws available to the public and local trades for purchase.
With 14-17 full-time staff, Queenstown Engineering is Site Safe NZ qualified and actively supports Apprentice Training New Zealand ATNZ, and Competenz, who are encouraging young New Zealanders to become qualified tradespeople. “Attracting staff is an ongoing issue. We actively employ apprentices and upskill existing staff and migrant workers who can display an understanding of Australia-New Zealand welding standards,” Allan says. Queenstown Engineering was first established in 2003 as a one-man operation.
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Construction Apprentice Training Southland and Queenstown Get the best of both worlds with industry based training and local polytechnic support including site visits and block courses.
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Contact Rob Te Maiharoa on (03) 2112699 or robyn.temaiharoa@sit.ac.nz
“The business expanded to meet high local demand and we now have to employ inhouse Autocad operators, qualified welders and riggers,” Allan explains. The team have worked on a number of high profile projects around the business district. One that stands out for Allan is an extensive metalwork contract for the Post Office Precinct in the town centre. This featured a number of custom stainless steel metalwork items.
Allan says they are currently supplying and installing structural steel for the Arrow International led project – the Ifly indoor skydiving centre; also a commercial re-fit of café facilities and a snowmaking pipeline for a local ski resort. Queenstown Engineering Ltd 120 Glenda Drive Frankton Queenstown (03) 442 3036 info@queenstownengineering.co.nz www.queenstownengineering.co.nz
PRECISION PROFILE LTD PLATE CUTTING SERVICE
Suppliers of precision cut plate components Proud to support Queenstown Engineering Tel: 03 4777 277 | Email: don@precisionprofile.co.nz L O C A L LY OW N E D A N D O P E R AT E D
66 | B&C - Issue #110
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