Whanganui UCOL is driving the development of local automotive training after industry representatives from across the city gathered at its new automotive workshop.
The gathering was set on March 23 to discuss further training options for its students.
The workshop, located on Hatrick St, is the training environment for UCOL's Certificate in Automotive Engineering Level 3. It is a pre-apprenticeship qualification designed for students to learn real skills in the workshop environment before they are exposed to the workforce.
Maurice Filer, the head of school for UCOL's Automotive Industries, says the meeting confirmed the need for continued professional development, as well as further entry level training in the automotive industry in Whanganui.
"Employers know that apprentices require time and training which in turn costs money. If we can make sure that new apprentices can walk through the door of a workshop with a basic mechanical skill set and the theory to back it, then they can be of real use to their employers."