Following the Cabinet announcement on April 24^th, and subject to the legislation passing, Te Pūkenga’s work-based learning divisions, including their existing apprentices and trainees, will transfer to an Industry Skills Board for up to two years.  It is expected that during this period existing and new providers will prepare to take over delivery from the work-based learning divisions.

The Industry Skills Boards will replace the Workforce Development Councils. There is potential for new providers to come into the market and provide training for Sprinkler and Alarm Technicians. If you have an opinion of this or want to see and improvement, or a company who need technicians, then I encourage you to sign up to the up and coming webinars below from the TEC. Below is taken from the TEC recent news release.

Industry voice in the network of provision

“Network of work-based learning provision” is the term we are using to describe the range of provider types we will fund for each industry sector. This means the types of providers different industries wish to utilise to deliver their work-based learning.

The providers able to receive TEC funding for work-based learning will relate to the required network of provision for work-based learning for different industries. Industry will inform TEC’s knowledge of the network of provision needed for a sector to ensure the provision meets the needs of industry and ensures a sustainable network. We expect that this may change over time in response to the changing needs of industry or new capabilities being established by providers which industry may wish to access.

In thinking about the type of provider an industry may wish to work with, it is important to consider what those providers offer. For example:

• Will this type of provider deliver nationwide or in specific regions?
• Do you need a provider who will focus on specific groups of learners?
• Do you need a provider who will offer niche provision or a range of provision for a broader sector?

Industry voice will be critical to determining the network of provision we fund, and TEC will work with Industry Skills Boards to understand industry’s view on the network of provision that is required, and will best meet their needs, from January 2026.

We are running two webinars for industry to further explain what the network of work-based learning provision is, and how your voice can contribute. This will include examples of options an industry has in the future.

These webinars will be held on 7 August with a session at 3pm, and another at 6pm. Both webinars will cover the same content. To attend one of these webinars, please register your interest via the links below:

• Thursday 7 August 3pm REGISTER HERE
• Thursday 7 August 6pm REGISTER HERE

These are introductory webinars, and we will conduct detailed engagement about specific sectors throughout 2025 and 2026.