Skills for Good - May 2025: Employer Survey Report, 50% off selected programmes, Vocational Education redesign update, and more

Tēnā koutou

As detailed in this newsletter, Minister Penny Simmonds recently announced her latest decisions in the ongoing Redesign of Vocational Education. While we are pleased with the decision to proceed with an industry-led independent work-based learning model, it does come with a modified approach to transition, and with that, some remaining uncertainty. However, what we do know is that we will transition into a newly established Industry Skills Board as a separate business division on 1 January 2026, that industry will determine their future network of provision, and that TEC have made an assurance that every effort will be made to ensure that training is not disrupted through these transitions.

We are also very happy to share our 2024 employer survey topline report in this newsletter. While we are very pleased with the results, we are striving to do better, and it is only through your continuous feedback that we can do this. I hope you can take a few minutes to review the key results and actions. Just as we seek your transparency and candidness when completing the survey, we strongly believe it is important that we reciprocate with transparency on the results, and the themes emerging.

We intend upon rolling out our 9th annual survey later this year, but if you have any concerns in the meantime, I encourage you to share these with your regular Careerforce contact, or to complete a Compliments & Complaints form on our website.

Ngā mihi nui

Rod Bentham
Executive Director, Careerforce

Last month we shared an update on Minister Simmond’s latest decisions on the Redesign of Vocational Education. This included our transition (including all existing learners) out of Te Pūkenga, and into a newly established Industry Skills Board (ISB) on 1 January 2026. While a transition plan is yet to be developed and then approved by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), we will transition into an ISB as a separate business division. Accordingly, and as was the case with our transition into Te Pūkenga in 2022, we will be hoping for minimal if any disruption to work based learning activities through this transition. Note that consultation on ISB coverage areas closed on 20 May, the outcomes of which will determine which ISB we will transition into.

What the Minister and TEC have made very clear is that post this transition, industry needs to determine their future network of provision (providers) – there will be further consultation on this, and this will include the option for the creation of an industry-led Private Training Enterprise (PTE). As industry however, this will be your decision to make, and you will also be able to consider alternative training provision options such as polytechnics, Wānanga, or other existing PTEs. We will share further information as it becomes available.

In the meantime, the TEC continue to invite industry to nominate representatives to help establish the new Industry Skills Boards. Click here for more information, including how to nominate. Nominations close 13 June.

For more information, go to the TEC website.

Record satisfaction result of 8.0, continuing the steady improvement in overall satisfaction since the survey commenced in 2017
Inaugural Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +38 (benchmark for tertiary education in New Zealand is +22)
476 survey completions, nearly double the level of completions from the inaugural survey in 2017
Lack of time remains the most significant barrier to training completion, consistent with sentiment from learner surveys
Insufficient English language skills steadily increasing as a barrier
Insufficient funding/resources and Government policy changes were expected to be the most significant challenges over the following 12 months

According to our most recent employer survey, insufficient funding/resources was the most significant challenge facing our employer training needs over the next 12 months.

To help ease the burden of training costs across the disability sector, we're offering 50% off Disability Support and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Support Apprenticeship enrolments until 31 July 2025. Enrolments are now priced at just $1,000 (incl. GST)*, a saving of $1,000 (incl. GST).

Eligible programmes:
NZ Apprenticeship in Disability Support >
NZ Apprenticeship in Brain Injury Rehabilitation Support >

IMPORTANT: This offer applies to domestic learner enrolments only. To be eligible for promotional enrolment pricing, training agreements must be received by Careerforce no later than 31 July 2025.

There has never been a better time to upskill your Level 3 graduates to a Careerforce Level 4 Apprenticeship. Do you have learners who have recently graduated with one of the following programmes, or may be due to graduate soon?
Health & Wellbeing L3:

Health Assistance Strand
Orderly Services Strand
Support Work Strand
Support Work - Disability Strand

Do you have staff members who may be ready to step up to an Apprenticeship? Could an Apprenticeship in Disability Support, or Brain Injury Rehabilitation Support be right for them?

To help boost skills and ease the burden of training costs upon the cleaning sector, we're offering 50% off full-service enrolments* until 31 July 2025.

Enrol your cleaners in a full-service programme now for just $345 (incl. GST) - down from $690 for Level 2 Cleaning programme, or $425 (incl. GST) - down from $850 for a Level 3 Cleaning programme until 31 July 2025.

Eligible Programmes:
NZ Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning
NZ Level 3 Certificate in Cleaning
NZ Level 3 Certificate in Cleaning Supervision Strand
NZ Level 3 Certificate in Cleaning Specialist Strand

*With full service enrolments learners are assigned an assessor by Careerforce, who provides full assessment services to the trainee for the duration of the training programme (marking assessments, providing feedback, and registering assessment results).

IMPORTANT: This offer applies to domestic learner enrolments only. To be eligible for promotional enrolment pricing, training agreements must be received by Careerforce by no later than 31 July 2025.

Effective June 2025, the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has implemented updates to training agreement information requirements.

Careerforce has accordingly reviewed and revised our training agreement enrolment forms to ensure full alignment with these changes. We have also taken the opportunity to make further improvements, to help ease completion of these forms.

We’ll be sharing further details and guidance shortly to support the transition to the new forms.

As always, it is essential that you use the most up to date versions of training agreements. In the case of these latest changes, old versions CANNOT be accepted from 16 June 2025. Training agreements are accessed from the forms page on the Careerforce website.

Got staff ready to step up to leadership?

You can support their leadership development with a Careerforce work-based Business Diploma.

The Diploma in Business (Level 5) is a fantastic opportunity for team leaders, managers, or even yourself, to upskill and grow. This programme is designed for new and experienced leaders and managers, helping them deepen their leadership and management skills in a practical, work-based context that’s relevant to your organisation.

For more information about the diploma, or to speak to someone about the diploma, get in touch.

The Careerforce Manaaki Fund provides temporary financial assistance to learners facing unexpected hardship that is impacting upon their studies. Check out the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) to see what the fund can be used for.

Final Round 13 - Applications open:
2 June - 15 June 2025
Applicants notified: 30 June 2025

Successful applicants will receive a one off payment of $400 to help with alleviating financial barriers.

"Just wanted to appreciate the assistance that I've received and it's an honour to say a big thank-you to the wonderful support that the team has offered to me and the rest of the care support team who also received the funding. Thank you so much." Manaaki Fund recipient

Do you have learners struggling with their learning due to physical or mental health concerns or stress?

We’re committed to promoting a healthy learning environment where Careerforce enrolled learners can talk to someone confidentially about their wellbeing when they need to.

These learners can complete the referral form on our website to connect with a Careerforce Wellbeing Advisor.

Support is available via phone, text, email, Teams, or in-person (location dependent).

Learners can visit our website and complete the online form:

We have recently developed and released the Careerforce Learner Code of Conduct which outlines the expectations of behaviour, breaches of the code and your learners' rights. We encourage you to share this with your learners.

This kawa tatūnga (code of conduct) is informed by te ao Māori and acknowledges the importance of respectful, reciprocal relationships in training. It reflects Careerforce’s values of manaakitanga (honouring ourselves and others), kotahitanga (connecting people), and kaitiakitanga (upholding responsibilities) to foster a positive learning environment for ākonga (learners) of Careerforce.

Find out more about:

Manaaki Fund for learners >>More
Achieve Study Hubs >>More
Free Wellbeing Support for Learners >>More
Careerforce forms - Please ensure you use the latest forms >>More
Apprenticeship Boost >>More
2025 Prospectus >>More
Jobs for Good - you can list your vacancy for free >>More
Free Counselling for all Careerforce | Te Pūkenga learners >>More
Te Pae Ora - Wellbeing hub for learners >>More
Careerforce Qualification Programmes >> More
Gateway and Vocational Pathways >>More
How to contact your local Careerforce Workplace Advisor >>More