Joining forces with Elite Training and Page Macrae Engineering, Pacific Coast Technical Institute is opening a new wing of their training centre dedicated to industry training.

Elite Training Services MD Troy Twomey setting up a safety system for roofers.

Thursday marked the official opening of the new facility on York Avenue, around the corner from PCTI. It focuses on getting contractors and industrial workers compliant with regulations required in their field.

'The facility itself was born out of a need to provide relevant training that will replicate the work environment,” says owner Mark Hellyer.

'Industry needs to have their people qualified and it needs to be renewed. What we're doing is meeting that need by providing access to this non-negotiable training.”

Page Macrae Health and Safety Manager, Daniel Walter, says: 'We were motivated to partner with PCTI to achieve quality, safe and relevant training for industry.

'There is also a feel-good factor investing in vocational training with PCTI that will positively serve businesses across the Bay of Plenty.”

The facility caters to height training, and roof and rescue training as well as working in a confined space and gas detection. Located in the heart of Mount Maunganui, the centre is only a few hundred metres from the port, so employees can be back on the job in no time.

Thursday was also a chance to celebrate and introduce Bay residents to PCTI's vocational centre and their Biztech course.

The two-pronged approach provides students with a high school equivalent qualification, which Mark says is becoming increasingly important to employers, and technology skills to get a foot in the door in Bay of Plenty business administration roles.

For more information, talk with PCTI staff over a barista-made coffee in their training café – The Jungle – or visit: www.pcti.co.nz. Spaces are limited.