Excerpt from “Real Skills” 22 August 2012 ( the newsletter of the Industry Training Sector - industry-led skill development)

Call for nominations for ITF Chair
ITF Chair Ian Elliott has announced that he will be stepping down from the role in September, following the news that the Plumbing, Gasfitting, Drainlaying and Roofing ITO which he heads will be merging into ETITO.

That means nominations for Chair of the ITF are now open.  While traditionally the role has been held by a Chief Executive of a member ITO, a new constitution allows for an independent chair so long as they are formally nominated by an ITO.

"We would welcome nominations from individuals with a governance background in industry or vocational education and training," Chief Executive Mark Oldershaw said.
Nominations close on 5 September. For further information, please contact the Chief Executive.


Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/rant-or-rave/5/pgdr-ito-merge-with-etito-has-anyone-else-heard-about-this/1219/

The government stated there were too many ITO's this will be one of many mergers. It made the most sense given that ETITO also are the ITO for another regulated trade i.e. sparkies.  They are a very large ITO also looking after many different industries like banking, security guards and the like I think.   I think it was a matter of merge or eventually sink - I'm pretty sure it would not have been financially viable for the PGDR ITO to carry on alone.  Their board looked long an hard at it - now we just have to make sure we maintain a voice.  I for one will be wrapped if we start to follow a delivery model the same as sparkies with night classes instead of block courses.  The other interesting thing will be how the money that the ITO had in the bank will be used to benefit our industries.  I understand it has been ringfenced for use by plumbers, gasfitters, drainlayers and roofers (trainees I suppose) in one way or another.  We may see scholarships or the like come out of this.

It has been on the table for a little while now - I think most of the ITO staff have secured jobs with the new ITO and the CEO goes on contract for ayear or so.  Changes all the way around...