New trade graduates celebrate success

Developing hands-on experts in fields as diverse as carpentry to gas fitting and hairdressing to security services is every bit as important to society as having university graduates. Last week the achievements of trades achievers were acknowledged.

Upskilling gave individuals knowledge, pride and independence, said Jan Crawford, the manager of Youth Futures which coordinated a ceremony for 350 trade graduates last Wednesday.

After the graduation Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said it was really important to “nurture and train our young people so they can succeed without having to leave the region.

“The graduation ceremony was a brilliant example of how we should acknowledge the great young people we have. Smart, reliable and happy to be upskilled.”

Trades training enable people to gain qualifications without incurring the mounting student debt suffered by many of their peers, said Crawford.

Last week’s graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of students who last year specialised in one of 35 trades, gaining an Industry Training Organisation (ITO) qualification at level three or over.

The annual ceremony, attended by 50 of the graduates, was held at the Napier Boys High School on Wednesday [6 May], with certificates handed out by Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule and Napier deputy mayor Faye White.

The ITO programme, supported by central Government, is based on workplace learning with the participants achieving standards set by industry.

4 October 2017

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