On top of the world

There aren’t many courses that have a near 100% employment rate, but the WITT Te Pūkenga New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Scaffolding) (Level 3) does and what’s more, it’s the only programme of its kind in New Zealand.

WITT kaiako Carey Johnstone says other providers run scaffolding assessments but WITT is the only place people can spend time learning and practicing their skills before entering the job market.

“Many people benefit from time spent doing a pre-trade learning about industry expectations, how to work in a team and generally getting use to the rhythm of manual work,” says Carey.

The pre-trade qualification covers workplace safety and how to identify, read, and use specifications, drawings and calculation skills that form the basis of effective scaffolding.

“One of the keys to the programme is the two-day a week work experience component,” says Carey.

He says this is what leads to jobs, but Carey’s industry connections also help.

With 45 years in the industry including 25 years running his own scaffolding business, CJS, Carey knows the industry inside out. He was also a founding member of SARNZ, the scaffolding, Access and Rigging New Zealand association of New Zealand.

“If ākonga don’t pick up a job from their work experience I often get calls to see if we have anyone on the programme that would be suitable and it’s satisfying to recommend a good student to a hirer,” he says.

Carey has been a tutor at WITT since the start of 2021 and says he really enjoys the working environment, the teamwork and making a difference in the lives of young people.

“I am also encouraged to engage with industry, which for me is catching up with old friends and former employees,” he says.

The New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Scaffolding) (Level 3) is a 15-week programme and has two intakes a year, the next intake is in March 2024.