Ara leads charge to strengthen engineering trades workforce

_{Andre de Roo addresses those attending the engineering trades collabortation event.}

Ara Institute of Canterbury is spearheading a collaborative effort to secure the next generation of skilled workers for New Zealand’s engineering and manufacturing sector.

The initiative, which aims to establish an Engineering Trades Consultancy Group (ETCG), began with a successful industry gathering in Christchurch last week with a second event planned at Ara Timaru on Thursday.

The Christchurch event drew strong interest from across the sector, with 25 attendees representing high schools, tertiary education sector bodies, manufacturing and construction companies, business groups, and government agencies.

Organisations such as Technology Education New Zealand (TENZ), the Ministry of Education, Make NZ, and Business Canterbury joined the think tank along with local employers including Lyttelton Engineering, Ewing Construction, BTS Engineering, and John Jones Steel.

Andre de Roo, Senior Academic Staff Member at Ara said fruitful discussions highlighted the urgent need for a sustainable approach to engineering education.

“Engineering is among the most resource-intensive trades with schools struggling to meet the cost of materials and equipment,” he said. “At the same time, industry faces growing demand for skilled workers in an environment of rapid technological change. Working together will allow us to share ideas, resources and investment to build something that lasts.”

_{The Ōtautahi event featured talks and tours}

A key theme of the event was creating clear pathways from classroom to career. Ara’s presentation outlined a model that engages Year 12 students early, matches them with potential employers, and provides structured work experience alongside pre-trade study.

“Partnerships make apprenticeships possible,” was a strong message from the discussion, which also addressed challenges such as work readiness, safety, and confidence for both students and employers.

“The goal is to increase real apprenticeship opportunities while offering support for young people entering the workforce,” de Roo said.

The event also explored upskilling and flexible learning to meet fast-changing industry needs. Short courses, micro-credentials and leadership development were highlighted as solutions to skill shortages and the need for future-ready recruits.

A highlight was a career-change story shared by Kanisha Stevenson. The Ara apprentice is working in a production management role at Spunlite Limited after making the move out of a career in hospitality.

“We all have a role to play in these success stories,” de Roo said. “The formation of a collaborative group of stakeholders will help guide future projects, ensure educators stay closely connected with industry and deliver better and more sustainable outcomes for learners and employers.”

He said Ara intended to continue to work to help ensure educators are focused on keeping training relevant and future ready.

“We know we need to stay sharp and connected. Keeping up training, investing in people and ensuring equipment is current are all vital pieces of this puzzle,” he said.

The next step is bringing this conversation to South Canterbury. Ara will host a second event in Timaru on Thursday, 20 November.

Local high schools, employers and organisations such as Venture Timaru and the Timaru District Council are among the 20 groups already signed up to join the discussion and help shape the future of engineering trades training.

They can expect a tour of Ara’s new state-of-the-art engineering and trades building, industry testimonies and a working session on forming the ETCG.

“By working together, we believe the Canterbury region can create clear pathways from school to career, maintain currency in equipment and training, and build flexible learning options to meet the demands of a fast-changing sector,” said de Roo.

Learn more about Ara Trades apprenticeships here.