Healtheries and Nutra-Life merged in 2009 to form Vitaco Health Ltd. Although both parent companies manufactured and distributed natural health and wellness products, their company cultures and business practices differed significantly. This meant integrating the two businesses caused confusion and a lack of cohesion in management practices and processes. It also made the need for [...]
“Mike, there’s no need to rush mate – you’ve got plenty of time to learn and you’ll be ready to sit your final electrical component test in a year. Nice job on your assignment. You’ve done well.” It’s a Saturday morning and seated around the lunchroom table with Cam Crawford, managing director of Chillex Group [...]
If New Zealand manufacturing companies think they are going to be able to hire skilled staff to fill their skills gaps without an investment in training over the next two years, they’d better think again. That’s one clear message to come from a survey into companies’ skills needs commissioned by Competenz, the industry training organisation [...]
The Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) and the New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas (NZBED) celebrated the launch of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) and the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice (NZDEP) last week. The NZDE and NZDEP are key outcomes of the National Engineering Education Plan (NEEP) project. Competenz project manager, [...]
William Taylor of Etech Industries in Palmerston North is a valued, qualified light fabrication tradesman – and he’s now set to make a name for himself as one of New Zealand’s top young sheet metal engineers. Right now William is preparing to head to London as part of a 17-strong team of ‘Tool Blacks’ to [...]
A growing need for specialist, qualified welders in New Zealand saw Competenz work closely with industry to develop two new national certificates in welding to complement existing mechanical engineering qualifications. The National Certificates in Welding (Levels 3 – 4) are now available to NZ industry to actively train and retain their own specialist welders. The [...]
Competenz and the Food & Grocery Council (FGC) joined forces recently, delivering small gift packs to MPs, advisors and key parliamentary secretaries along with a certificate highlighting the 2010 industry training achievements of one of the food sector’s most recognised names, to raise the profile of succcessful industry training outcomes in the food and beverage [...]
Jeremy Aimers of McAlpine Hussman Ltd in Lower Hutt took out this year’s Wallie Askew Workskills competition and the distinction of being New Zealand’s top refrigeration and air conditioning apprentice for 2011. The Wallie Askew Workskills competition is held annually alongside the Institute of Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning Engineers (IRHACE) annual conference, this year [...]
Kyle Tainsh of Ernest Adams bakery in Palmerston North is at the top of his baking ‘game’ having recently won the 2011 NZ Young Baker of the Year Award and gaining an internal promotion – all within one year of completing his craft baking apprenticeship. Kyle believes his apprenticeship training and work experiences put him [...]
A total of 42 employees at Industrial Tube Manufacturing were recently awarded their Level 1 Occupational Health and Safety national certificates at a graduation ceremony organised by and hosted at the company’s Hamilton site. Local National MP, Tim Macindoe, was there to present each employee with their certificates at a ceremony that celebrated the team’s [...]