7 December 2021

The second Infrastructure Skills Centre pilot course has been successfully completed.

A partnership between Fulton Hogan, Ministry of Social Development, Civil Contractors New Zealand and the Construction Sector Accord, the course was held in Manawatū, following the first course in Christchurch in July and August. The second course was originally scheduled for Auckland, before Covid-19 restrictions intervened. Manawatū was chosen in its place because of the level of activity there, including te Ahu a Turanga – Tararua Manawatū Highway, the new Palmerston North City Council maintenance contract, the redevelopment of Ohakea Air Force Base and the opening of the new regional asphalt plant.

Among the course graduates, four are being employed on Fulton Hogan’s Palmerston North City Council contract and two on the te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatu Tararua Highway project.

The goal of the course is an across-the-board experience of infrastructure construction, as a first step in a career constructing New Zealand’s transport networks, water systems and other vital infrastructure.

“We want people who are new to our industry to gain something they cannot realistically achieve any other way – an appreciation of the soft and hard skills required in building, operating and maintaining infrastructure,” NZ Chief Executive Graeme Johnson says.

The course has 22 practical hands-on sessions, 32 theory-based class sessions and three site visits, with modules facilitated by a team of 26 Fulton Hogan employees and trainers.

The skills covered range from ‘softer’ skills such as effective communication, environmental awareness and management, health and safety, budgeting, time management, nutrition, mental health awareness, through to ‘harder’ skills such as concrete pouring and finishing, reading and interpreting plans, applying asphalt, traffic control and use of power tools.