BCITO helps up-skill builders

The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) is giving employers of current BCITO apprentices the opportunity to apply for one of 15 Employer Development Grants worth up to $3,000 each.

This is the second year BCITO has offered the grants, which were established to help employers in the construction sector develop their businesses and assist them in providing on-going investment in training.

Director of Christchurch’s Corbel Construction Mark Wells, who currently employs nine apprentices, received an Employer Development Grant in 2011 and says professional development is an important part of Corbel Construction.

“We have a training programme with some of our senior guys. Some of them are doing construction or business management courses, and some are doing various other courses related to the sector,” Mr Wells says.

“We spend about fifteen to sixteen thousand dollars a year on the training programme, so the BCITO grant was a significant bonus.

“The application process was simple and painless. I sent it off and six to eight weeks later it had been approved,” he says.

BCITO chief executive Ruma Karaitiana says he was pleased with the successful uptake of all 15 grants in 2011 and hopes as many employers will apply for the grants again this year.

“This is a great way to help up-skill New Zealand’s building industry, increase productivity and gear up for future demand,” says Mr Karaitiana.

“Uptake of these grants in 2011 was testament to the professionalism of those in the construction sector who are eager to further their knowledge and expertise. Careers in building are now a professional journey, often requiring study over-and-above trade level” he says.

Steve Prentice, Commercial Manager at Corbel Construction, began his career in the construction industry as an apprentice almost thirty years ago, and is now furthering his personal development by undertaking a Bachelor of Applied Management.

Mr Prentice says he chose to further his study to ensure that he kept up with industry standards.

“You can get to a certain level with experience, but then you need to formalise everything in order to keep tracking up a certain path. You get overtaken if you don’t keep up with the flow,” he says.

Mr Prentice is only in his first semester, but says he is enjoying the challenge of getting back into studying.
Any employer of a current BCITO trainee can apply for the grant, including supervisors and managers of an employing company.

Mark Wells says undertaking further study is something those in the construction industry should not hesitate about.

“[Further training] can improve the understanding of systems, why we do things the way we do, how others operate, and how we work with other companies or individuals. What that achieves is an improved interface as a business with suppliers, subcontractors and clients, and ultimately how we deliver jobs,” he says.

Grant recipients can select any training or development assistance which best suits their personal or business development needs. Some examples include:

• BCITO level 5 and 6 courses such as the National Certificate in Construction Trades (supervisor or Main Contract Supervision)
• The National Diploma in Construction Management
• Short courses or seminars on small business management, estimating or contract management
• Higher level business-related qualifications such as Bachelor Degrees

Employers interested in applying for one of the 15 grants can access the application pack at BCITO.org.nz under the ‘Employers’ page. The number of available grants will be updated on this page as they are claimed.  Applications will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis, and will be assessed on how well the intended use of funding meets the purpose of the scheme.