1. Lift civil infrastructure as an aspirational career pathway

2. Connect industry with schools through an industry, education and government programme of engagement

3. Provide funding for the design and delivery of a suite of apprenticeships, i.e. for the actual learning journey.

4. Improve funding decisions for programmes to deliver on-job civil trade skills nationally

5. Study how we can overcome systemic barriers (e.g. diversity)

Context

Much of vocational learning happens not in classrooms but by watching and doing practical tasks under supervision on site, so we must grow on-the-job training.

Civil Infrastructure apprenticeships are fairly new (since 2015), so many current workplace managers didn’t come through these pathways. Most managers have university backgrounds and are now expected to support apprentices’ learning journeys. Because of this, there’s often a gap in shared experience between apprentices and their managers, and those managers need more support to effectively mentor apprentices. It’s also important to recognise that young people communicate differently than previous generations, and that difference needs to be acknowledged and supported.

1. Continue to build bite size chunks of learning with flexibility around how training providers deliver these.

2. Waihanga Ara Rau needs to make sure we’ve got the right pieces on the qualifications framework, and that micro-credentials fit together and work for industry.

3. Review what’s already on the qualifications framework.

4. Build stronger links between tertiary providers and secondary school learning opportunities, like trades academies.

Context:

Tertiary education structures need to be better connected and aligned with the training and skills required in civil infrastructure. To support this, school leavers should be better prepared before entering the civil workforce. Additionally, funding decisions for programmes delivering civil trade skills nationwide must improve to ensure effective training pathways. Another key consideration is the absence of a recognised certification for civil trades as a professional standard, which should be developed to raise industry credibility and consistency.

There is also a clear absence of diversity in leadership roles, both in terms of gender and ethnicity, making it important to support greater representation at these levels. Additionally, industry associations should be supported to take a stronger role in leading civil workforce development and shaping the future of the sector.

1. Industry training needs to evolve to include new technologies that support sector-wide adoption of high-productivity tools.

2. Industry training needs to develop future leaders who can guide the shift toward a zero-carbon sector.

1. Social procurement needs to have stronger broader outcomes.

2. Social procurement initiatives need to have a focus on career pathways, advocacy and accountability. For example, supporting apprenticeships are written into contracts and then not eventuating.

3. A clear set of procurement guidelines for industry needs to be developed. This can be supported by undertaking research around the training aspects required in understanding procurement.

Context

Even with a focus on the local workforce and new technology, the industry will still face a significant worker shortage for some time. There isn’t a clear or consistent understanding of procurement, so industry and public sector clients need to get on the same page about social procurement and skills development.

It’s important to explore how the education system can help, especially by making training more accessible and appealing to underrepresented and diverse groups. Stronger collaboration between procurement agents, industry, and education providers will also be key, possibly by improving procurement processes and gradually raising minimum standards over time.

1. Add key civil construction roles to the various entry lists, including the Green List and the Skill Shortage List.

2. Introduce formal pre-employment training such as that offered by the Infrastructure Skills Centre, including on the job training.