New look to reflect growing leadership role in the building & construction sector
At its recent AGM, the Building & Construction Training Fund’s members approved changes to the organisation’s Constitution and a name change to better reflect the wider role it has carved out since its initial establishment. Its broader focus on driving sector capability and sustainability is embodied in its new name, Construction Growth Foundation.
The organisation was formed in 2021, when the previous Government’s RoVE reforms took effect, to hold and administer a training fund from the residual assets of the then Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO).
Board Chair, Kieren Mallon, says it quickly became clear that there was an opportunity and a need for the organisation to do more than was envisaged when it was set up as a pragmatic and expedient interim solution.
“The role we have already started to play in advocacy and fostering collaboration across the sector is all the more important as gaps begin to emerge across the building and construction landscape, from the imminent wind-up of organisations like Callaghan Innovation, Workforce Development Councils, ConCove and the Construction Sector Accord,” says Mr Mallon.
The Construction Growth Foundation (formerly BCTF) is an umbrella organisation that represents 17 construction industry associations. Its strategy focuses on: Capability-building and skills development; collaboration and sharing best practice; and other initiatives and innovation to support the long-term sustainability of its member associations and the sector as a whole.
The organisation reflected on its progress in FY24 on implementing its strategy at its AGM last month, including:
Provision of not-for-profit governance training to participants from its member associations because building governance capability supports the long-term resilience of member associations.
Provision of scholarships to individual learners to undertake study related to their trade or profession, to the value of nearly $100,000.
Significant financial support for conferences and other similar training-related events held by members, ensuring these opportunities for sharing best practices continue at a time when other funding is harder to secure.
Support for the development of best practice guidelines for the ceilings and cladding sector, and the tiling sector in New Zealand, which are critical for maintaining standards in these respective areas.
“Advocacy is a key aspect of the long-term sustainability of our member associations and the wider building and construction sector, and we are already making an impact in this regard. We will continue to play a critical role as a single voice for the sector on key challenges ahead including vocational education reform, the impacts of the inherent boom and bust cycle we face, and the need for innovation and adaptation in response to the impacts of climate change”.
As well as the name change to Construction Growth Foundation, other Constitutional changes agreed at the AGM were to its purpose (reflecting the organisation’s wider role), and some refinements to support best practice governance.
Media contact: Jeanette Kumar, 027 324 4858