Future Delivery of Baking Industry Training in Aotearoa New Zealand

Work-based training has long played an important role in building skills across New Zealand’s Baking industry, helping apprentices and employees learn on the job and grow their capability in real workplace environments.

As the vocational education system continues to change, the Baking sector now has the chance to help shape what future training looks like. From 2027, training could be delivered by a range of organisations, including Polytechnics, Private Training Establishments (PTEs), Wānanga, or other approved providers. While current arrangements with Competenz will continue during the transition period, the decisions made over the next two years will have a big influence on the future of baking training in New Zealand.

The sector is also keen to ensure that as the system evolves, resources are directed toward supporting learners, apprentices, employers, and frontline delivery — making sure investment is focused where it has the greatest impact on learner success and industry capability.

Why We’re Seeking Expressions of Interest

This Expression of Interest (EOI) is about identifying providers that can deliver high-quality, industry-connected training that meets the needs of the baking sector into the future.

Most importantly, this process puts industry at the heart of the decision-making — helping ensure that future training remains practical, relevant, affordable, and focused on achieving great outcomes for both learners and employers.

In considering future delivery, the baking sector is seeking a model that:

• Maintains strong alignment between training and real workplace practice
• Ensures consistency of standards while allowing flexibility across regions and providing for small workshops and larger-scale manufacturers
• Delivers measurable improvements in skills, productivity, and retention
• Keeps industry actively involved in shaping programmes and delivery

The long-term model must also be sustainable, scalable, and able to adapt to changes in technology, materials, and design practices.

Provider Capability Requirements

Respondents to this EOI will ideally demonstrate capability across the following areas:

1. Compliance and Accreditation – Be prepared to meet regulatory requirements, maintain accreditation, and have a strong understanding of industry compliance and safety expectations.
2. Industry Connection and Relevance – Have proven experience working with the baking or related manufacturing sectors, enabling input into programme design and delivery.
3. Training Design and Delivery – Demonstrate strong integration of on-job and block course learning with flexible, cost-effective delivery approaches (including digital options) and nationwide reach and delivery.
4. Learner Achievement and Outcomes – Evidence strong completion and progression rates and a commitment to equitable outcomes across diverse learner groups.
5. Employer Partnership Approach – Demonstrate effective communication, relationships, and flexibility to respond to employers (especially in the baking sector where applicable); have training that is embedded into workplace practice and a culture for supporting workplace-based supervisors and mentors.
6. Learner Support Systems – Demonstrate structured support and engagement, aligned to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021; have systems for early identification and support for learners requiring additional assistance and have support initiatives that are culturally responsive and inclusive.
7. Systems and Data Capability – Have reliable systems for tracking learner progress and reporting capability to meet regulatory and industry requirements.
8. Governance and Organisational Strength – Demonstrate stable governance and leadership structures and financial sustainability.

Submission Requirements

This is an exciting and critical opportunity to support the future of Baking training. Employers and the sector are instrumental to the decision of who delivers work-based training.

Please submit an Expression of Interest no later than Thursday 28 May, 2026 to VETreform@competenz.org.nz that provides a paragraph on each of the following (no longer than 1500 words in total):

• Organisation profile and relevant experience
• Proposed approach to delivering baking sector training
• Examples of employer and industry engagement (especially with the Baking sector)
• Approach to learner support and wellbeing

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