This year’s Waikato pilot earn-as-you-learn programme has shown what’s possible when industry invests in young talent.

 

Take Ahmed and Nathaniel—fresh out of school, now rotating across Hansa, NZ Aero, APL Manufacturing, and Stafford Engineering. In just a few months, they’ve:
 • Learned hands-on welding, fabrication, and CNC machining.
 • Designed a windscreen mould in CAD and programmed it into production.
 • Tackled a major productivity challenge at APL, producing a 20-page rework reduction plan now being implemented.

 

Ahmed and Nathaniel’s story was shared at Saturday's Open Day hosted by APL Manufacturing, where 80+ parents and students explored what’s ahead with the 2026 Earn as You Learn NZ Certificate in Manufacturing.  

 

Their journey highlights what modern manufacturing is really about: not just trade skills, but design, coding, problem-solving, and leadership.   As they explained: “When we left high school, we thought manufacturing was just cutting metal and welding. Through this programme we’ve discovered it’s so much more. Each company gave us real responsibility, not just ‘student tasks.’ Now, just weeks from finishing, we’re lined up for full-time work and further study.”

The pilot’s success points to a stronger, future-ready workforce—built on collaboration between schools, vocational educations providers, industry, and young people ready to step up. For students, parents, and educators: manufacturing opens doors you didn’t know existed. 

Special thanks to the businesses supporting this programme:
APL Manufacturing, ESP Plastics, Gallagher Group, Hansa Products, Longveld, NZAero, Stafford Engineering, Stainless Design, Supreme Sheetmetals

And to the wider stakeholder Group who have brought the industry's idea to life:
Advancing Manufacturing Aotearoa, Hanga Aro Rau, Wintec, Competenz, WECA