Service Industry Training Alliance (SITA)
Find out how this group of ITO’s are promoting skills growth in the service sector
About SITA
SITA is the Services Industry Training Alliance. It comprises of New Zealand’s five service industry training organisations, which cover the following industries:
- Aviation, Tourism, Travel and Museums (ATTTO)
- Sports Fitness and Recreation (SFRITO)
- Hairdressing (HITO)
- Hospitality (HSI)
- Retail and Wholesale (Retail ITO)
Together, these industries employ more than 600,000 people – more than a quarter of New Zealand’s workforce.
Formally launched at Parliament in 2007, the collaboration was formed to promote skills growth within the service sector as a whole. The alliance will enable member ITOs to capitalise on similarities in their industries and collaborate on relevant work such as research and qualifications development.
SITA launch, (L-R: John Meeuwsen CE Retail ITO, Janice Shiner CE TEC, Erica Cumming CE HITO,
Honorable Michael Cullen then Tertiary Education Minister, Steve Hanrahan CE HSI,
Elizabeth Valentine CE ATTTO, and Sue Fitzmaurice CE SFRITO).
Strategic Goals of SITA
1. Research and Development across the ITOs involved e.g. market research; research into and development of effective on job learning / e-learning / supported distance learning; qualification development and research into current provision
2. Quality Assurance – including quality management systems, common processes and, possibly, sharing assessors / moderators.
3. Operations - sharing strategies and potentially all systems including back office operations
4. Recruiting and attracting people into the service industries – promotion of the whole sector
SITA projects
The alliance has attracted over $1,000,000 in additional Government funding for projects during the 2008 – 2011 period.
Some of the key current projects are noted below:
- Career Maps and Pathways project
A joint initiative of ATTTO and the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI), the Career Maps and Pathways project identifies the information needed by people looking for career options in the hospitality, aviation, tourism, travel and museums sectors.
Click here for more information.
- Centre of Service Excellence project
ATTTO is also involved in the Centre of Service Excellence project in conjunction with the mayors of Nelson and Tasman, and the Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency (led by Retail ITO and SFRITO). The objective of this project is to achieve a high degree of commitment from local employers in the service sector to raise the skill level of all those engaged in these industries.
The mayor's office will act as the focal point; seeking support for promoting the concept from local employers, training providers and the community. The SITA ITOs will engage with head offices to encourage local managers, owners and franchisees to engage in industry training within the Nelson/Marlborough area.
- Maori Qualifications Strategy
ATTTO continues to work on a Maori qualifications strategy as part of a consortium of ITOs who have a strong Maori focus. The consortium was formed to foster Maori participation and development across a range of industries, and is a by-product of the Sector Leadership Component – Te Rautaki Maori Nga mahi a te Rehia (led by SFRITO).
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System - ITOMIC
In another project aimed at delivering better customer management, ATTTO is working closely with HSI on the shared development and implementation of a customer-relationship management programme (CRM). Led by HSI, this database will also provide an efficient and effective ITO trainee administration tool. On completion of this project, the software will be made available to all ITOs to enhance operational effectiveness and engagement with our customers.
- eEnablement project
This project is currently under development. Click here for a copy of the initial 'think piece' document presented to the SITA Alliance, ITF and key stakeholders from the Tertiary Education Commission, Ministry of Education and New Zealand Qualifications Authority on 7 July 2008.
ATTTO is currently talking with key stakeholders interested in supporting a funding application to progress this visionary piece of work.
- Shared Services project
The SITA Alliance members are continually exploring ways we can better serve mutual customers or improve operational efficiency. We’ll keep you posted.
Related Links
