McConnell Dowell’s Private Training Establishment (PTE), the first in New Zealand’s construction industry, has been recognised at the 2016 ITENZ Awards.

Registered in 2013, the PTE was established to provide high-quality and effective training that leads to improved safety outcomes on McConnell Dowell’s construction sites.

It is designed to meet the relevant industry requirements and current best practice as well as being aligned with McConnell Dowell’s internal standards and company values. All learning and assessment material goes through a stringent internal and external moderation process, to ensure that the training meets the required national standards and that the assessments are fair and robust.

Training is designed to be accessible - it is scheduled around daily work practice and schedules, and offers flexible hours such as training on the weekend to minimise down-time on site.

Courses aim to be engaging and interesting by including a mix of media, presentation styles, presenters and interactive activities. To support trainees from diverse cultural backgrounds, and literacy and numeracy support is also provided.

Benefits of the training include better understanding of obligations, greater confidence to raise safety concerns, improved participation in safety conversations and activities, and ultimately, greater safety consciousness and reduction of incidents. The outcomes support McConnell Dowell’s goal of Zero Harm every day.

McConnell Dowell was awarded a Highly Commended in the Provider of the Year category, which recognises the provider which has been outstanding in the promotion of quality assurance in an independent tertiary education organisation.

The judges were impressed with the way McConnell Dowell has used feedback to improve delivery and content, and applies systems which are likely to lead to students’ communication, learning and achievement successes.

AnandNaiduITENZAward

L&D Manager Anand Naidu received the award.