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Industry Training at Work Day
Christchurch Engine Centre and Air NZ Aircraft Maintenance Services promote the benefits of industry training on the nationwide Industry Training at Work Day
The 2008 Industry Training at Work Day, held on 1 May 2008, was an opportunity for Air New Zealand Aircraft Maintenance Services at Christchurch Airport and the Christchurch Engine Centre to represent the New Zealand aviation community in promoting industry training.
The event was a fantastic opportunity to promote a greater understanding of the challenges and issues that are faced industry-wide, and raise the profile of industry training and it’s importance in recruitment and retention.
An initiative of the Industry Training Federation (ITF), Industry Training at Work Day was an opportunity for workplaces nation-wide to promote the benefits of industry training to key influencers and decision makers, including politicians and business and community leaders.
Mr Colin King, Associate Spokesperson for Education (Trade Training), visited the Christchurch aviation workplaces to learn first hand about the training delivered, and the initiatives undertaken to address the skill and staff shortages that are currently being faced by the industry.
“I was blown away to hear about the difficulties that aviation businesses have in attracting school leavers”, said Mr King. “Aviation has so many positives, but the awareness of it as a career in schools is simply not where it should be. There are outstanding opportunities in this sector that are not as well known as they could be. We need to be focusing on raising awareness of aviation career pathways for interested students.”
Chris Brooks, Training Team Leader at Christchurch Engine Centre, agrees that awareness of aviation as a career needs to be improved.
“We are finding this out as we approach schools and the community,” he comments. “The Engine Centre is a significant employer in Christchurch with the opportunity to support 20 apprentices each year. It is important that Christchurch and Government know who we are and the role we play within the community.”
Ian Parkes, Communications Manager for Air New Zealand Aircraft Maintenance Services, believes awareness in schools is an issue for several reasons.
“In the past, most schools used to have a range of technical courses and they would steer good people towards engineering. Some schools are great but in general there is less of a hands on approach now, even in technical subjects. The end result is that many students today have just not discovered the joy of using their brains and their hands, so they are not looking for careers in that direction. We are certainly missing out on some people who would be brilliant in aviation.”
"The aviation industry demands high calibre people in all fields of operation,” he says. “That is especially true in the engineering trades where it takes years to acquire the skills and experience needed for the great responsibility they carry. It is important to us that the training industry and government understand our needs, our successes and our challenges."
Find out how your workplace can become involved in the new ATTTO initiative aimed at increasing the number of young people in Aviation
Find out more about the benefits of industry training
Air New Zealand Aircraft Maintenance, Christchurch
MP Mr Colin King, Trainer and Trainee Mentor at Air NZ Alan McDonnell, and First year Aeronautical Engineering Trainee Joshua Wieland.
Christchurch Engine Centre
MP Mr Colin King, with graduates of the National Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering Level 4 (power plant strand) Simon Sproull and Nicole Bulford.
