BCITO extends apprenticeship support

BCITO Te Pūkenga has introduced new schemes to help support apprentices and employers

The Critical Skills Apprenticeship Programme and Building Belonging initiative are two ways in which apprentices and employers can access support and help from BCITO as they progress through an apprenticeship. 

The Critical Skills Apprenticeship Programme is a joint effort between BCITO and Education Unlimited, which aims to support 15 apprentices from the Te Tai Tokerau region north and south of Whāngarei and the Bay of Islands including Kerikeri, Opua and Russell. 

The geographic challenges of the area make it difficult for BCITO Training Advisors to visit trainees and provide them with the support required, which is where the Critical Skills Apprenticeship Programme steps in. 

Monthly meetings

The apprentices meet once a month in Kerikeri, where they can access additional support designed to boost apprenticeship success and help aspiring tradies “navigate the formal aspects of their mahi” says BCITO. 

“We designed five workshops spread across five months, which focused on a range of different things,” said Tina Rose, Director at Education Unlimited.  

“For example, the basics of the BCITO training portal, how to navigate it, and supporting the apprentices to get into good habits with taking/uploading photos onsite. There was also a focus
on financial literacy and numeracy, along with discussions around well-being, mindsets, the importance of mental health, and SMART goals.” 

Workshops made up the majority of the programme. However, apprentices could also access one-on-one sessions, and those who completed the programme earned a Site Safe Foundation Passport in Building Construction, a GoodYarn mental health awareness certificate and gained a solid foundation in time management, problem-solving and workplace communication. 

BCITO reported strong feedback from apprentices, with one reportedly saying it was the best day they’d had in weeks, and another saying it was helpful to connect with learners in the same position as them.  

More inclusive industry

Alongside the Critical Skills Apprenticeship Programme, BCITO has launched its Building Belonging series of resources for trade employers. 

Building Belonging aims to create inclusive worksites and a construction and infrastructure sector that works better for everyone. The resources are available thanks to a joint initiative between Waihanga Ara Rau, the Workforce Development Council for Construction and Infrastructure and BCITO Te Pūkenga. 

“We’re pleased to offer Building Belonging in response to the upskilling and growth needs of our industry,” said Philip Aldridge, CE of Waihanga Ara Rau. “This suite of free resources for trade employers, created with our partner BCITO Te Pūkenga, includes a podcast series, videos, articles, and interactive training modules to help pave the way for more inclusiveness in the trades.” 

The training modules cover numeracy and literacy in construction, creating a learning space, tips and tricks for numeracy, tips and tricks for literacy, tips and tricks for communication, diversity and inclusion, cultural awareness, cultural awareness in practice, mental health and wellbeing. 

More information can be accessed at bcito.org.nz/news-and-publications/news/building-belonging-paving-the-way-for-more-inclusivity-in-trades and bcito.org.nz/news-and-publications/news/introducing-critical-skills-apprenticeship-programme .