ON THE ROAD TO A REWARDING CAREER

For students looking at careers where driving is a requirement, getting a licence is essential to their employment prospects. However, the cost of sitting the tests can often be a barrier.

“A valid driver’s licence is increasingly essential for securing apprenticeships in the building and construction industry, enabling workers to get to and from their job sites easily, and make pick-ups and deliveries when needed. However, the current environment is making it tougher for young people to afford some of those incidental costs to getting on the employment ladder. We wanted to do something to help students get one step closer to their career in the trades and boost their employability,” says BCITO Director, Greg Durkin.

Riley Betham was one of the lucky students who participated in a trial BCITO scheme in 2024, as part of his Gateway course at Auckland’s Sacred Heart College. The BCITO Gateway programme is offered to schools across the country, enabling students to receive hands-on experience in the trades via local employers, alongside their school studies. Interest in the programme is growing fast, rising from 362 student enrolments in 2020 to 564 in 2024.

From 2025, all students in the programme will be eligible to have the cost of applying for a Class 1 car driver’s licence covered by BCITO.

The trial licence scheme was the perfect opportunity for Riley, who had his heart set on a career in the trades and wasn’t quite sure how to make it a reality.

“I had no interest in going to school, but I wasn't prepared to pursue a career in building full-time either. I asked my career advisor what my options were, so she introduced me to the Gateway programme, which I found really enjoyable,” he says.

Being able to get his driver’s licence paid by BCITO through his school was a great incentive to do well.

“Knowing BCITO covered it meant it was one less expense I had to worry about. It made it easier because I felt like I had to pass, otherwise I would be letting others down by wasting their time and money trying to help me,” he adds.

“My driver's licence means I’ve been able to travel from site to site, which has been useful and has made me more independent. I've also been able to help out more around the house by dropping off siblings and getting things for the family.”

Kathy Wiltshire, 2024 Head of Department Careers at fellow participating school Tawa College, says her students shared the same experience.

“Students were really excited for this opportunity and being booked to sit their licence – it really motivated them. Some of them had put it in the ‘can’t be bothered’ basket, but this provided the push they needed,” she says.

Having finished his schooling, Riley is now looking forward to starting an apprenticeship with Cheyne Construction, the employer who provided his work experience through the Gateway programme.

“They constructed my poppa's house a few years ago, and we were impressed with their values and what they stood for. We therefore asked them if they were willing to take me on, and they agreed. For me, this programme has been fantastic. It has helped me fully understand what construction will look like in the future and the steps that lead up to it,” he says.

BCITO is looking for more schools to join the Gateway programme, and help more students into a lifelong career before they even graduate. To qualify for the free driver’s licence fees, schools must book driving tests on behalf of their students and cover the upfront cost. This will then be reimbursed by BCITO. One test fee per student will be covered in 2025.

For more info, visit bcito.org.nz/gateway or contact your BCITO representative.