Hawke’s Bay Schools Trades Academy @ EIT welcomes its first students this week (Friday, 24 February) with a powhiri and the official opening of the on-campus facility. 

The Trades Academy will be providing practical skills training for 150 senior high school students this year while allowing them to study for NCEA credits and industry-based tertiary qualifications. 

Trades Academy manager Paul Hursthouse says the initiative – a partnership between schools, and EIT, and well supported by industry – has generated enormous interest throughout Hawke’s Bay.

A hundred places were originally allocated for the Hawke’s Bay Trades Academy’s first year.  However, demand was so high that the Ministry of Education agreed to provide additional funding to increase student numbers.

EIT has partnered up with 14 secondary schools to provide fees-free places for training in hospitality, automotive, hair and beauty services, trade skills, animal care and sport and recreation.   

The 16 and 17-year-olds enrolled in the academy will attend EIT from 9am to 2.30pm every Friday over the coming school year.

 Principals, teachers, schools and EIT staff, industry representatives and students will assemble on campus on Friday on campus as Napier MP Chris Tremain and EIT chief executive Chris Collins officially open the Trades Academy building recently refurbished to house it.

Student learning will also involve the use other on-campus facilities, notably EIT’s hospitality and animal care suites.

Hawke’s Bay’s Trades Academy is one of 10 opening around New Zealand this year.  The initiative is aimed at re-engaging students in education by providing further opportunities to gain NCEA Level 2, and helping students identify clear pathways to further education, training and employment.