HITO will be transitioning all its arranging training functions, resources, learners and employees to Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning (Te Pūkenga WBL) on 19 September 2022 where it will operate as the HITO business division.

Commenting on the HITO transition plan, TEC Deputy Chief Executive – Delivery Gillian Dudgeon said: “It is great to see HITO choose to join the Te Pūkenga network and I’d like to thank everyone who was involved for their hard work in getting to this point.”

HITO employs 40 staff and supports the following industries: hairdressing, barbering and beauty therapy. It maintains 14 training programmes and micro-credentials and about 1500 learners and 800 employers.

Responsibility for most of its qualification development, moderation, consent to assess, and programme endorsement moved to Toi Mai and Toitū Te Waiora Workplace Development Councils on 4 October 2021.

HITO Chief Executive Kay Nelson said the approval of the transition plan was a major milestone for HITO in the reform process since it was announced in early 2019.  “The hairdressing, barbering and beauty industries have been under immense stress through COVID-19, and it has been good to see the public acknowledge the important work that they do.

“Our focus will now be on ensuring a seamless transition into Te Pūkenga WBL that minimises any disruption to our employers, learners and trainers and allows us to continue to champion our industries and their needs.”

Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning Limited (WBL) Chief Executive, Toby Beaglehole is looking forward to the expertise and connections that HITO will bring to WBL. 

“HITO will be a fantastic addition to our work-based learning whānau,” said Mr Beaglehole. “They are a small but mighty, dedicated team and we’re looking forward to working together on this mahi. By bringing their expertise into the fold, we can learn from each other and be sure we’re delivering the best outcomes for not only our learners in the beauty industries, but across all of WBL.”

The TEC Board has now considered all eleven TITO transition plans. This completes of a key plank of the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) – planning to transition the role of supporting workplace-based learning from the TITOs to other providers, Te Pūkenga and private training establishments (PTEs).

By 01 January 2023, these providers will be arranging and supporting work-based training as well as delivering education and training in the classroom and online; the goal is that learners will be able to move seamlessly between the different modes of delivery according to their needs.

A great deal of work has taken place over the last two plus years to prepare and plan for the transition of arranging training and standard setting activities traditionally performed by the Industry Training Organisations. The Tertiary Education Commission would like to thank all those who have worked so hard to achieve this significant milestone.