The Trade Training Centre is the result of the community and various industries in the South Waikato District who voiced concerns about the lack of skilled labour available to support local business growth.

Issues continued to arise throughout 2005, and in 2006, research was undertaken to address these issues. Results of the research clearly indicated that the skills gap issues highly publicised throughout the country were severely affecting a number of important sectors that the community depended upon for district growth and economic stability.

Youth issues also gained momentum around the same time in 2005 with research indicating there were no avenues available for youth to move into employment and career opportunities within the District.

As a result of the findings a Skills Gap Strategy was established. Each sector submitted plans of action and a document was created listing appropriate activities to retain youth and get them trained and skilled to fill the specific needs of local industries.

It quickly became apparent that the districts engineering sector was enthusiastic about supporting a Trade Training Centre.Other such models for training centres were evaluated and some aspects of these models were incorporated into the programme.  However, the main aim of the Trade Training Centre is to fulfil the specific needs of our own local industry and this was done through consultation with the engineering sector that provided insight into the specific skills required by the industry sector.

The Trade Training Centre was established in 2008 with contributions from the South Waikato District Council, Waiariki Institute of Technology, Work and Income and the South Waikato Engineering Cluster. The mutual goal of the Trade Training Centre is to promote trades training and provide practical work experience within the South Waikato District.

In 2009 the TTC engineering course was re-evaluated by the Steering Group and as a result the an automotive component was added to the course. The Steering Group expanded to include two new members representating the local automotive industry.  This combined course now brings a wider scope in terms of work experience and employment for the students. 

School leavers are provided training free of charge and the engineering and automotive firms are committed to employing local youth from the programme. Currently the Trade Training Centre focuses on engineering/automotive, carpentry and agriculture training also being offered.

The annual Nuts and Bolts Newsletter is produced by South Waikato District Council and aims to attract more engineering and automove firms into the Trades Training programme. It is delivered to all these  firms throughout the district, high schools and interested students and is available in South Waikato District Council offices.

From the first course in 2008 and the 2009 course, 14 students have already graduated and are employed with participating engineering firms. All students have gained valuable hands-on work experience in local engineering workshops and have the opportunity of being employed in apprenticeships, based on their individual results.

Recruitment for the 2011 course will begin in November 2010 and enquires can be made to either Waiariki Institute of Technology on 07 885 0204  or South Waikato District Council Economic Development Officer on 07 885 0773.

The Trade Traning Centre was established with conributions from: