Acomposite

Education School leavers face a bewildering array of choices and opportunities when trying to select a career. Not everyone wants to go to Uni – a concept the marine industry is embracing.

For many year 12 or 13 school pupils, the call to a university is loud and clear; others can’t wait to pick up tools and put their practical skills to work.

For these students, the Schools to Work transition programme, a scheme jointly supported by Ministry of Education and funded by the Tertiary Education Commission, is a well-structured step towards a relevant career. It’s also helping to recruit the next generation of marine and composites industry apprentices.

Schools to Work enables students to work, for example, two days a week on an approved, industry training pre-apprenticeship and attend school as usual the other three days. The allocation of time is flexible and ranges from running a minimum of six weeks to the entire school year. Some students work full-time at their pre-apprenticeships during the school holidays.

Pre-apprenticeship enables them to gain marine or composites industry unit standards to credit towards a nationally-recognised Level 4 New Zealand qualification; they are also gaining credits towards NCEA Level 2 and 3.

But first they have to learn that NZMAC ITO stands for New Zealand Marine and Composites Industry Training Organisation, the arm of NZ Marine which sets national skill standards for the marine and composites industries; it also oversees 400 apprentices’ training and assesses their unit standards.

NZMAC ITO has appointed Tracey Eaton as schools transition advisor to present Schools to Work to the classroom and introduce interested students to participating employers.

“University is not for everyone,” Tracey says. “We’re looking at the big picture for longevity, getting kids who really want to work in the marine and composites industry. They can dip their toe in the water and see what it’s like. Ideally, they will want to continue their apprenticeship after they leave school.”

Many students, she says, had assumed the marine and composites industry consisted solely of boatbuilding but had overlooked skills such as electronics, engineering, interior fit-out, advance composites, painting and design and marina management.

But any student who thinks they can drop grammar or algebra and have a cruisey two days a week off school is in for a shock. Schools to Work is a step into the workforce and carries appropriate responsibilities. NZMAC ITO screens students carefully to ensure they are genuinely enthusiastic to learn new skills and a good fit for the intended apprenticeship.

In May this year, NZMAC ITO took seven students to meet Jeremy Gibbs, technical sales manager at C-tech Ltd in Rosebank, Auckland. C-tech manufactures carbon fibre components such as sail battens, mast tubes and spreaders.

Jeremy told the students: “We don’t care what you don’t know because we can teach you that. What we’re looking for is commitment to education, to learn the craft and support it.”

After a tour of the factory, three students were interested in a position at C-tech. NZMAC ITO guided them through the application process, including writing a CV and preparing for the formal job interview – all useful experience even if they don’t get the job.

One of two selected was Jake Craggs, aged 16, of Auckland Grammar. He learned of the Schools to Work programme while participating in the Marine Trades Challenge in which teams compete to build a kitset boat in two hours and race it around a course. At C-tech Jake is now developing skills in pre-pregnated carbon fibre.

“I’m really enjoying it,” he says. “It’s a good start for me in the marine industry. My parents are happy that I’m still at school getting qualifications and credits and working at the same time and getting experience.”

Jeremy says NZMAC ITO created a smooth, efficient selection

process. “NZ Marine made sure the lads were prepped and ready.”

Schools to Work is clear on expectations. The students are on formal employment contracts and paid the trainee wage. NZMAC ITO and the employer create an ILP – individual learning programme – to ensure the student’s work covers all required skills to attain unit standards to NCEA credits.

NZMAC ITO keeps in close touch with the student and reports back to the school regularly. There is no extra work for the school other than ensuring the student doesn’t fall behind in school work.

“You can see some people who are working with kids in schools and they just want the best outcome,” says Tracey. “They see the opportunity for students to begin apprenticeships and work to make it happen.”

Jake has managed to take on the work at C-tech without dropping any of his school subjects. “I have to put a little more effort into homework but I don’t feel like I’m falling behind,” he says.

Chris van der Hor, general manager of NZMAC ITO, says around one-third of the people working in the New Zealand marine industry today have graduated from an apprenticeship scheme and manage or own a business.

“Tertiary Education Commission has acknowledged that three out of ten pupils go to university; seven out of ten don’t,” he says. “For too long the focus has been on university education rather than assisting people into meaningful study or employment.”

Schools to Work is a pilot scheme that will run until June next year with no guarantee of ongoing funding, but Chris is determined to see it continue.

“Even though we’re a small ITO, we want to show we can be leaders in helping to show the Ministry of Education and Tertiary Education Commission that this is a meaningful, cost-effective option with wider benefits to all New Zealanders,” Chris says. “This programme has huge potential to change the lives of many students and finally provide industry employers a supply of suitable people to train.” B