New training support with Competenz & EMA partnership [NZ]
Friday 17 Jul 2026
Competenz and the EMA (Employers and Manufacturers Association)
have announced a new partnership that extends support for employers
beyond apprenticeships and vocational training into broader business
capability.
With both organisations supporting thousands of New Zealand businesses
across engineering, manufacturing and trades sectors, the partnership
gives Competenz employers access to practical business support that
extends beyond training, including employment relations and legal
services, HR resources, and leadership and health and safety courses at
EMA member rates. Employers new to the EMA will also receive a discount
on their first year of membership.
Ruth Cooper, Executive Director of Competenz, said the partnership
reflects a deep understanding of what our industries and employers
need. "We know our industry trades, and engineering and
manufacturing employers inside out. We understand what it takes for them
to be high performing, sustainable and future-focused, and everything we
do is built around that. This partnership with the EMA means our
employers now have access to employment relations expertise, HR
resources and leadership development alongside the vocational
training we already provide.”
She says the integrated approach gives businesses more confidence to
lead well, and the EMA’s guidance can help managers to meet their
obligations and grow capable, connected teams, delivering value for
employers, learners and the wider New Zealand economy.
John Fraser-Mackenzie, EMA’s Chief Executive, believes the
partnership will ultimately strengthen New Zealand's
workforce, productivity and business growth. “We're
really looking forward to working more closely with Competenz. Both of
our organisations are passionate about helping businesses build the
skills they need for the future. There's a real opportunity for us to
achieve more together than we can on our own. I am confident that this
will help grow capability across industries, creating more opportunities
for apprentices and learners.
“This will strengthen New Zealand's workforce and productivity,
enabling businesses to innovate, compete and grow with
confidence.”
Beyond service delivery, the two organisations will advocate together on
skills development and workforce capability policy with government and
industry.
Ruth says, “Competenz and the EMA will work together to advocate
for workforce development and vocational education, bringing
employers’ voices into policy discussions with government and
industry.”
The partnership reflects Competenz's next chapter as an industry-owned
organisation, broadening the services available to employers while
continuing its focus on high-quality vocational education.
Source & image credit: Competenz

|