Announcement

The Apprenticeship Training Trust (the Trust) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Industry Training Organisation (PGDRITO).

The partnership is to promote wider industry training outcomes and, as part of this, the Trust will in future exclusively utilise the services of the PGDRITO for the provision of apprentice training required under its group training scheme.

Darryl McDonald, Chairperson of the Trust says ”This follows a period of consultation between the Boards of the PGDRITO and the Trust. From this the Trust has recognised the inherent benefits that the PGDRITO’s single national training program has for the entire industry, as well as the PGDRITO’s other investments in its own organisation and infrastructure.”

In welcoming this partnership John Simmiss, Chairperson of the PGDRITO, notes “The PGDRITO has similarly recognised the significant contribution the Trust has made over its 18 years of operation to industry training as well as the quality and outcomes of its group training scheme, and the positive influence this has had on industry training.

The PGDRITO welcomes this partnership with the Trust; we have appreciated the leadership shown by the Trust, and we look forward to the synergies and benefits that will now accrue for the industry as a whole.”

Both organisations have a shared view that industry training is now poised to grow and develop far more effectively than has been the case in the past. The PGDRITO’s investment in common delivery and assessment documentation for use by training providers, as well as in expanded and improved moderation procedures will lead to ongoing improvements in training. This will further improve the industry’s confidence in the quality of this training, and the need for ongoing investment in it by employers.

Ian Elliott, Chief Executive of the PGDRITO notes “The PGDRITO’s implementation of a single national program is giving the entire industry, and especially employers and their apprentices, confidence that training in the industry leading up to Registration and beyond will result in quality outcomes, ongoing improvements in the calibre of newly qualified tradespersons, and increases in the number of employers training apprentices and others undertaking industry training. “

The Trust believes that this alliance with the PGDRITO will give much needed and long awaited clarification about training, particularly that of apprentices, for the industry. It therefore believes this alliance to be in the best interests of the industry.

John Berridge, General Manager of the Trust, advises that “From 1 September 2009 all new Trust apprentices will enter into PGDRITO Training Agreements. From that date all existing Trust apprentices will transition to the PGDRITO to complete the off job training component of their existing Trust apprenticeships.

This process will take 12 to 15 months to complete. It will entail existing Level 1 and 2 Trust apprentices completing their present level of training with the training provider with whom they are presently enrolled. They will then enter into a PGDRITO Training Agreement to complete the remaining level or levels of their off job training of their Trust apprenticeship with the PGDRITO.

Existing Level 3 Trust apprentices will complete their final level of training with their present provider, and will not need to enter into a PGDRITO Training Agreement.

There are no changes to the Trust apprenticeship itself. All our apprentices will remain employed by the Trust for the duration of their apprenticeship. Their conditions of employment, including wage rates and leave provisions will remain unchanged. They will also remain subcontracted to their existing host employer. “

The Trust and the PGDRITO have agreed transition arrangements that will ensure that no Trust apprentice will pay more or take longer to gain their National Certificates and complete their Trust apprenticeship than had they done so under their previous off job training arrangements.

A series of workshops and briefings for Trust apprentices, host employers, training providers and other industry stakeholders will commence in the near future. A series of communications will also be sent out to these individuals and groups, and the same material will be posted on the Trust’s website www.att.org.nz

Details on the various changes that are needed to the Trust apprenticeship for new apprentices who will register with the PGDRITO and for existing apprentices when they transition to the PGDRITO over the next 12 to 15 months, will be added to this website in the near future.

At present all the information provided elsewhere on this website refers to the present Trust apprenticeships where the apprentice enrols at a local polytechnic. These apprenticeships will continue until the last of the present Trust apprentices now employed by the Trust on 8 July 2009 transition over to the PGDRITO. This will not take place until late 2010 or early 2011.

New apprentices joining the Trust from 1 September 2009 will register their Trust apprenticeships with the PGDRITO. New apprentices joining the Trust between now and 1 September 2009 will have the opportunity and be encouraged to join the Trust and register their apprenticeship with the PGDRITO. These individuals need to contact the Trust directly for further details.

For further information please contact:

John Berridge, General Manager, Apprenticeship Training Trust
john@att.org.nz
Mobile 0274 769 304

Ian Elliott, Chief Executive Officer, PGDRITO
ian.elliott@ito.co.nz
Mobile 0274 376 670