Partnering with manufacturers to create a skilled, sustainable talent pipeline

CEO of AMA Catherine Lye told the audience, about the successful ‘Earn as you Learn’ pilot programme piloted in the Waikato with Wintec.  

Attendees at the event included Chief Executive Professor Christina Hong, Bill Sole, Chief Executive of the Manufacturing and Engineering Industry Skills Boards, Professor Jan Polzer from University of Auckland and other business representatives.  

Following the speeches, attendees were taken on tours of TechPark Campus which is across the road from the Manukau Campus.  

Earn as you Learn is a collaboration between Wintec, Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa, leading manufacturers and the Government. Over thirty weeks, students split their time between paid, hands-on experience with top Waikato manufacturing firms and in-class learning. Students spent ten weeks each at three companies and completed all the requirements for the NZ Certificate in Manufacturing Level 3.  

Professor Hong addressing the audience.

Speaking at the breakfast, MIT and Unitec, Chief Executive Professor Christina Hong talked about the importance of manufacturing for our economy.  

“New Zealand manufacturers are putting satellites into space, making the component parts required to power the electrified heavy transport of the future and our agri-tech exports are valued at $2billion annually. So, we’re talking big business and the opportunity to shape the future.” 

“What we do in the future is bounded by three main things. The vision that we share and will shape together; how the education sector and industry work together to inspire the next generation of talent and retraining, upskilling the current workforce; and supporting the technology drivers that are present in our daily lives. 

“Today is an opportunity to update you and show you around our TechPark Campus. 

“While I was in Hong Kong, I started an Earn as you Learn degree programme. Those folk in work, come out and do engineering management for example. So they may be engineers, but they did not, while they were doing their education, look at the management or business side. 

“Programmes like Earn as you Learn come at a time when the Government is clearly signalling, its intention to strengthen vocational pathways at secondary schools, both in its changes to the national qualifications system and increased support for trades academies.”  

Two weeks ago in the Budget, the Government announced it would be doubling the number of trades academy places nationwide from 10,000 to 20,000 over the next four years. 

Currently, MIT and Unitec operates the largest tertiary-based trades academy in the country offering places to 862 learners studying at the 36 schools an opportunity. 

 
“Our move to a single organisation allows us to increase our networks and increase the number of young people we are transitioning positively from school to work and onto further study and training. The funding boost is welcome news as we move through to the future.” 

Catherine Lye and Julie Prentice, Director Pathway and External Engagement Tāmaki

Catherine Lye, AMA CEO says the Earn as you Learn pilot programme was initiated in collaboration with a small group of manufacturers in the Waikato.  

“We all got together in partnership with Wintec and hosted an open day for students. Students then had to submit an application and were interviewed. 

 
In the first year, twenty learners cycled through with 80% completion rate and 70% going onto full-time employment with the manufacturers. 

Five manufacturers were part of the programme in the first year and twelve the second year. AMA is now looking at expanding to the Bay of Plenty, Hutt Valley, Canterbury and Auckland through MIT and Unitec. 

Manufacturing and Engineering Industry Skills Board Chief Executive Bill Sole also spoke at the breakfast. 

Industry skills boards (ISB) were created on 1 January 2026 following the disestablishment of the Workforce Development Councils at the end of 2025.  

Mr Sole said his organisation has a greater focus on industry needs.  

“Our accountability is to industry, and we are largely Government- funded.  

“We advise Government on workforce priorities and we collaborate with vocational education providers. We’ve been asked to be the link between Government and industry.  

“Many school leavers now have no idea what manufacturing is or what New Zealand manufacturing is. We’re going to bring industry into the classroom.”

Christian Faber, Steelhaus (third from left) at TechPark.

Following the walk around TechPark, Christian Faber from Steelhaus said he was impressed with the campus.  

“I love it. I didn’t know it was here. I drive past all the time. I didn’t know it was to this extent. The range and it’s compacted all in one building,” Christian says.   

“The speeches were very informative, good to see what’s out there. I talked to people in the food industry, so it was great.”  

In the coming weeks, manufacturers from around the North Island will be visiting the manufacturing companies that were involved in the Earn as you Learn pilot programme to find out more.   

The breakfast was held at the Manukau Campus.