Pictured: Participant Maporika Tahapeehi chats with Fulton Hogan NZ Chief Executive Graeme Johnson at the Fulton Hogan Canterbury Laboratory, where the Christchurch course is centred.
This week the Infrastructure Skills Centre pilot goes live.
Developed by Fulton Hogan, the Ministry of Social Development, Civil Contractors New Zealand and the Construction Accord with the support of a number of major industry employers, the goal is to help meet New Zealand’s infrastructural skills challenge.
The first intake of 12 participants are having an intensive six weeks experience of the many aspects of infrastructure. There will be another intake in Auckland in October, and the results will then be assessed and the concept refined as necessary.
All course participants are employed during and after the course by major employers – Higgins Construction, Fulton Hogan, Blakely Construction, Isaac Construction, Better Trade Solutions, Christchurch Ready Mix Civil, BG Contracting and Rock Control Ltd. They are also mentored by their employers during the course.
The modules are run by a team of 26 Fulton Hogan workplace instructors and subject matter experts.
Fulton Hogan Chief Executive Graeme Johnson says the Centre aims to give people an experience to set them up for a life-time in infrastructure.
“In our sector you can start from the coal face and develop a life-long career – you just need the right attitude, work ethic and to take the opportunities that are put in front of you.”
There are 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 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.
