Expanded Training Partnership Benefits Southland Apprentices

Two of the South Island's major training providers have renewed their partnership to expand building apprenticeship programmes across the lower South Island.

Otago Polytechnic and Southern Institute of Technology signed a new Memorandum of Understanding at SIT's Invercargill campus on April 15, building on their successful collaboration that began in 2025.

The partnership emerged after government sector changes in April 2025 allowed both institutions to deliver work-based learning models to the southern region, ensuring training remained industry-focused and community-driven.

The collaboration initially grew from a successful Southern Pilot programme conducted by both polytechnics in 2023, which tested joint delivery methods across the southern South Island region. This pilot provided crucial insights into construction sector training needs and helped shape the original agreement.

Under the expanded partnership, apprentices and employers will benefit from a broader range of training options including night classes, day release programmes, and block courses alongside traditional work-based learning.

Russell Finlay, SIT's Programme Operations Manager for the Trades and Technology Faculty, says the initiatives from the pilot recommendations have proven highly successful, prompting plans for expansion.

"We are working together to develop a new programme based on the latest version of the level 4 Carpentry qualification. This programme will offer southern apprentices and their employers a highly efficient and flexible training package developed and assessed by qualified carpenters," Finlay said.

The partnership emphasises regular face-to-face engagement with employers and apprentices to identify training gaps, provide feedback, and develop new training initiatives. This direct industry contact helps ensure programmes meet real-world needs.

Mark Cartwright, Deputy Executive Director of Industry Training and Innovation at Otago Polytechnic, highlighted the consistency benefits of the expanded agreement.

"This will allow each organisation to support learners wherever they find themselves working. Our ongoing collaboration continues to go from strength to strength, and we see this MOU as being a launch pad for further collaboration in a variety of sectors to support our regions," Cartwright said.

The formalised collaboration ensures all carpentry apprentices receive consistent service and support levels regardless of their location across the lower South Island, removing traditional barriers to training access and progression.