The civil construction and infrastructure industry has teamed up with government, industry bodies and employers to help meet New Zealand’s infrastructural skills challenge.
The Infrastructure Skills Centre has been developed jointly by Fulton Hogan, the Ministry of Social Development, Civil Contractors New Zealand, the Construction Accord and a range of civil construction employers to give New Zealanders a unique range of experiences.
The first intake of 12 participants assembled in Christchurch today for an intensive six weeks, learning about the many aspects of infrastructure and the skills that underpin the industry.
Trainees are employed prior to the course and will be mentored by the companies they are employed by throughout their training. There will be another intake in Auckland in October. The results will then be assessed and the concept refined as necessary for the future.
Fulton Hogan NZ Chief Executive Graeme Johnson says the Centre aims to give people an experience that can set them up for a lifetime in infrastructure – an across-the-board appreciation of the various skills required in building, operating and maintaining infrastructure.
He says that starting ‘on the tools’ after attending the Infrastructure Skills Centre, along with subsequent industry training, can lead to a diverse and satisfying career and be a stepping stone to managerial careers.
Each intake will have 22 practical hands-on sessions, 32 theory-based class sessions and six site visits – to Allied Concrete, Stahlton Precast, Miners Road Quarry near Christchurch, Fulton Hogan’s Canterbury laboratory, a civil construction site and an asphalt plant.
The modules are facilitated by a team of 26 Fulton Hogan workplace instructors and subject matter experts.
The skills covered range from effective communication to environmental awareness/management, health and safety, budgeting, time management, nutrition and mental health awareness through to concrete pouring and finishing, reading and interpreting plans, applying asphalt, traffic control and use of power tools.
Course entrants will go to jobs after the course with major sector employers – Higgins Contractors, Fulton Hogan, Blakely Construction, Isaac Construction, Better Trade Solutions, Christchurch Ready Mix Civil, BG Contracting and Rock Control Ltd.
