Building a strong trades sector for the region

Katrina Mayo is passionate about the construction industry and trades education. Not that you’ll see her wielding a power drill or welder. She builds in other ways.

She launched Taranaki Construction Connect earlier this year to bring together local construction sector associations. The focus is on training and professional development delivered locally to help grow and strengthen the sector.

Katrina, (School of Trade Training Lead Work-based Learning at WITT), organises seminars, workshops and networking events at the WITT campus for construction industry people. It’s a numbers game, she says.

“Traditional industry associations are great at professional development - but in the regions with small numbers, they’re limited in what they can do. Construction Connect is designed to find ways for us to come together so that more can access events and the latest knowledge – whether it be new technology, big projects or the latest in health and safety.

“Connecting into the 30+ industry associations gives us access to a wide range of professional development opportunities. Construction Connect aims to provide a Taranaki focused calendar of professional development events from a range of providers all in one place.”

Trades champion

As a former careers consultant in Taranaki and Manawatū then 10 years working with apprentices, Katrina is a staunch champion of trades and on job learning.

She keeps her finger on the pulse, surveying construction sector leaders about what jobs and training are likely to be in demand in the future. She’s co-chair of NAWIC – (National Association of Women in Construction) Taranaki Branch and is proud of the Women in Trades event she has helped organise for the last three years. It attracts around 500 young women and industry exhibitors who offer interactive experiences using tools and equipment.

“A lot of people go through school thinking they’re not academic – and they’re not going to succeed in the academic world. Then they find their niche – whether it’s in a trade, or nursing and discover a love of learning,” says Katrina.

“The number of people who’ve left school at 16 and gone into a trade, then 20 years later they’re doing MBAs (Master of Business Administration) and running the business – it’s amazing. Trades have given them that launching pad.”

“What’s beautiful about trades – is they can create something, stand back and look at it and say, ‘this is what we did, and it’s amazing.”

Katrina (left) with Kerrie Thomson-Booth (WITT deputy director - Trades) at the Women in Trades event this year.

Sector support

Andrew Pepper, Managing Director of Pepper Construction, says staff from his company have attended Taranaki Construction Connect events together with construction people from all aspects of the industry.

“We found this to be very beneficial in aligning our current practices and engaging with other building professionals.”

In her role as branch representative for the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS), Rebecca Hayman says she’s been trying for several years to pull together Taranaki’s quantity surveyors and other professions for networking, on-site experiences and continual professional development. Her efforts led her to Katrina, who told her about Taranaki Construction Connect. “Instantly I knew this would be a fantastic resource for all the codes across Taranaki.” 

“It’s difficult - and expensive - to bring BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand) seminars and the like to New Plymouth, but this way we can all keep up to date with what’s available for our professional and personal development."

Rebecca is so impressed she’s shared the concept with other regional branches at the NZIQS “where smaller provinces are trying to work with peers in similar ways. I think this could be a great tool for them too.”

“I’d encourage all building professionals to join up with Taranaki Construction Connect and get involved,” she says. “We all have something to offer and it’s a great opportunity to encourage and engage with our grass roots next generation professionals.”

New generation links forged

With WITT as the host body for Taranaki Construction Connect, WITT trades tutors and students can also get involved, forging links for job information and placements.

WITT trades students get to meet potential future employers at events Katrina organises and find out about opportunities in the sector they are interested in, while employers can give feedback on future training needed in sector.

“The only way we are going to grow our local construction sector is through close relationships and partnerships with industry,” says Katrina.  “We need to be hand in hand with them and identifying where the needs are for our community.”

She hosted people 30 at WITT recently to an event on renewable energy with Clarus, to hear about their solar farm, hydrogen blending pilot scheme and New Zealand’s first biogas upgrade project.  Enabling smaller businesses to learn about new projects at a local event, and to discuss job opportunities is vital.

“We bring the experts here,” says Katrina.

Check the Taranaki Construction Connect page to find out more and events coming up.

Caption: Katrina Mayo at WITT in front of the building project underway with trades ākonga.