InfraTrain News

InfraTrain 2010 Outward Bound Scholarship.  Read more

InfraTrain ITO recognition.  Read more

Māori in Infrastructure Trades Training - further Diploma Scholarships available!  Read more

Changes to the National Diploma in Infrastructure Asset Management.  Read more

Beca focus on competitive pricing.  Read more

Find out more about the Māori in Industry and Trades Training initiative.  Read more

InfraTrain Outward Bound Scholarship 2010
01 March 2010

If you are a Modern Apprentice currently enrolled with InfraTrain, you could win one of two Outward Bound Scholarships which are up for grabs

Each Scholarship provides:

• Participation in the 2010 BETA Classic Outward Bound 21 day course
  22 August to 11 September 2010
• Travel to and from Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds
• A $500 Kathmandu gear allowance

InfraTrain offers the Scholarships in conjunction with the BETA (Built Environment Training Alliance) group, as part of its support for the development of leadership skills in the infrastructure industries.  The two winners will have the opportunity to work with Modern Apprentices from other construction and infrastructure sectors.

Outward Bound will give you a unique experience through a range of outdoor activities including sailing, kayaking, bushcraft and navigation.  The course will also challenge you on a personal level, enabling you to:

• Push your limits

• Reflect, discover what is important to you and determine your future direction

• Learn about yourself from both success and failure to take your confidence to the next level

• Discover what it takes to create effective relationships and be part of a successful team

• Develop a stronger sense of personal responsibility in your responses to real and challenging situations

Selection criteria

To apply you must be enrolled into an InfraTrain Modern Apprenticeship programme.  Consideration will be given to:

• Your motivation to progress through their Modern Apprenticeship programme
• Achievements to date
• Evidence of a positive, supporting training culture in your workplace
• Leadership ability or potential
• The quality of supporting submissions will also be considered

How to apply

Click on the links below to find out more, or talk to your manager or InfraTrain Regional Advisor.

2010 Outward Bound Scholarship - information sheet

2010 Outward Bound Scholarship - application form

Applications are open from Monday 1 March until Friday 9 April 2010. 

InfraTrain ITO recognition
29 January 2010

InfraTrain is pleased to announce that it has been granted recognition as an Industry Training Organisation (ITO) for a further 5 years. 

This recognition follows an audit by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and Audit New Zealand.  All ITOs must go through the recognition process every five years to ensure that standards of quality are maintained.

The positive feedback received by InfraTrain from NZQA and Audit New Zealand is testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of the whole team – in Head Office and the regions. 

InfraTrain is also grateful to the many companies who wrote letters to NZQA and Audit New Zealand supporting our recognition as an ITO.  We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone concerned, and look forward to working with you over the next five years and beyond.

Māori in Infrastructure Trades Training - further Diploma Scholarships available!
10 February 2010

InfraTrain is offering a further five Māori Diploma Scholarships to applicants in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay.

Each Diploma Scholarship is worth $10,000.  This will be paid to the employer of each winner to support them in their studies towards a National Diploma in Surveying, Civil Engineering (Applied) or Infrastructure Asset Management.

The Diploma Scholarships are offered by InfraTrain as part of the Māori  in Infrastructure and Trades Training initiative.  One of the aims of the initiative is to support Māori who presently work in the industry to reach their full potential and gain higher level qualifications, including National Diplomas.

The selection requirements for the Diploma Scholarships are:

1.  Applicants are Māori

And are either:

2.  Currently enrolled in an InfraTrain National Diploma in Surveying, Civil Engineering
    (Applied) or Infrastructure Asset Management, or;

3. Will become enrolled in an InfraTrain National Diploma on winning the Scholarship.

Applications for the Diploma Scholarship should be made on the application form below, with supporting recommendations from the employer.

Application Form

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 19 March 2010.

Successful candidates will be notified on Wednesday 31 March 2010.

If you require any further information please contact the National Operations Manager, Ross Leslie on (04) 494 1881 or email: ross@infratrain.co.nz

Changes to the National Diploma in Infrastructure Asset Management - Level 6
17 February 2010

InfraTrain New Zealand has now completed an amendment to this qualification following consultation with the National Asset Management Steering (NAMS) Group and INGENIUM.

A barrier to completion was identified for managers not involved in the tendering process for the Core Compulsory Unit Standard 23593 – Manage tendering and form and manage a contract for an infrastructure asset.

As a result, 23593 has been removed from the Core Compulsory Units, and is replaced by 26155 – Form and manage a contract for an infrastructure asset (8 credits).

Managers who are involved in the tendering process may undertake a new unit standard, 26156 – Manage tendering for an infrastructure asset (2 credits) - which has been added to the Core Elective Units.

Candidates enrolled in the National Diploma will be contacted by their InfraTrain Regional Advisor to arrange transition to the amended version.

Beca focus on competitive pricing
08 February 2010

Congratulations to John Youdale, Quintin Blackburn and Nathanael Sterling of Beca Infrastructure Ltd, who recently achieved a Level 6 National Certificate in Civil Engineering - Asset Management (Competitive Pricing Procedures). 

John, Quintin and Nathanael are part of the Beca Infrastructure Management Services team specialising in Construction Management, based in Auckland.  The team provides a range of services including project management, tender document preparation, tender evaluation and construction management.  

Technical Director Jon Ewer says an increasing number of Beca’s clients require tender evaluators to have a qualification.  He explains, “Tender evaluation is just part of the service Beca provides.  However, having qualified staff means we can now keep the whole project in-house, ensuring contact with the client all the way through.  It also means we can offer tender evaluation as a service to the rest of the company.”

Beca are also able to carry out assessments for the CPP qualification in-house, as Jon is an InfraTrain Registered Assessor.  He says, “Having an assessor within the company is a huge benefit to the business because it streamlines the qualification process.”

Jon continues, “By the end of 2010 we are aiming to increase our number of assessors from one to two, which will help us with succession planning.  John Youdale will take part in the next assessor training course and another employee, Stephen Baker, is working towards the CPP qualification.  John will be assessing Stephen’s work as part of his assessor training.

“These qualifications are a real team effort.  Many different people are involved – project administrator Amy Kerr who co-ordinates regular study sessions, the senior management, and of course the engineers themselves.  Everyone is a part of the success.”

(left to right): InfraTrain Regional Manager Jim Kelly, Jon Ewer, John Youdale, Quintin Blackburn and Nathanael Sterling of Beca Infrastructure Ltd