$350k of scholarships on offer

The proportion of young New Zealanders not in employment, education or training – known as the NEET rate – now sits at 13.8 per cent.

However, a trades-focused fund could offer hope for some and deliver in-demand skilled workers to industry.

The Inspiring Futures Foundation Scholarships, presented by MITO, will award up to $350,000 to people in a wide range of trades looking to build their professional skills.

MITO is a nationwide organisation with a legacy of more than 50 years supporting on-job training in the automotive, commercial road transport, extractives, drilling, gas and logistics industries.

Its chief executive Verna Niao says the annual scholarship programme, which includes a category designed to support employers to take on new learners, is what young people need right now.

“With a rising NEET rate and some businesses finding it hard to take on trainees and apprentices, financial support for learners can make all the difference,” she adds. 

“We’re seeing demand for skilled trade professionals bucking the overall employment trend and our new enrolments are up 30 per cent year on year, so funding training for people into these areas is a win for individuals, employers and New Zealand. 

“In particular, our KickStart scholarship category for new entrants to our industries means there has never been a better time for an employer to take on a young learner.”

The Inspiring Futures Foundation, which funds the programme, is equally committed to providing opportunities for training in trades. Trust convener Louise Sixton says the scholarships have proven their worth in upskilling learners across different sectors.

She adds: “Whether it’s leadership education through Harvard University or the first year of trade training for an automotive technician, these scholarships make a real difference to people’s careers and together help drive the trades sector forward.”

The 21 scholarship categories cover the first-year training fees of apprenticeships, advanced technical programmes and business management courses.

The fund is open to people working in MITO’s industries and all scholarships cover the first year’s fees. Among them are a selection targeted at groups under-represented in trades training, including women, Maori and Pasifika. Applications close on December 11. Find out more online at mito.nz/scholarships.

Passion for the trade

One automotive electrician’s journey has taken Malinga (Mali) Silva, pictured above, across continents. After working in Sri Lanka, he went to the Maldives before coming to Aotearoa. 

His hard work and passion here have seen him upskill after receiving a 2026 MITO and Inspiring Futures Foundation scholarship.  

He says: “I was speechless and it was like a dream. Thanks to my team and MITO. It was a big achievement in my life.”

Silva was awarded MITO’s new start advanced technical scholarship for overseas qualified technicians looking to upskill. As an automotive electrician, he chose to use the scholarship to complete MITO’s New Zealand certificate in automotive electrical engineering at level five.

Tasman Auto Electrics director Mike Carmody says the scholarship award was amazing, but not surprising. “It was awesome to see the happiness in his eyes and how grateful he was. He’s done it himself. This is recognition of how hard he works and how good he is at his job. We were simply there to support his application.”

Silva’s passion for the trade started in his home country of Sri Lanka, where he grew up around his father’s transport company.

“My dad used to bring the trucks and other vehicles he was repairing to our house, so I would watch what he was doing and help. That’s where my interest in being a mechanic started.”

After starting his apprenticeship, Silva discovered automotive electrical engineering was where his interests truly lay.

Once qualified, his career expanded internationally. He gained experience with companies in Sri Lanka during and after his training, before accepting a role in the Maldives where he spent nearly six years working on heavy and earth moving machinery.

“I worked on mobile cranes, motor graders, wheel loaders and excavators,” he recalls. “The company went under after Covid so I got another job with a hotel maintaining their EV generators and other electrical machines like golf carts.”

During that time, Silva was working towards another goal – moving to New Zealand. “My main dream was to live here and, after my visa was accepted, I moved here.”  

Silva joined Tasman Auto Electrics in Richmond soon after his arrival and feels supported professionally and personally. “I'm very happy with my job. It’s a good team, and they treat me like their brother and have my back. They are really good people.”

Carmody couldn’t be happier with Silva and his work. “Mali’s a fantastic tradesperson. He learns, listens and is great at diagnosing. He’s also a very likeable guy and good human being. When he’s in the workshop and on the jobs with the team, he’s very much a team player. 

“And when he’s out on site, he is always welcomed by our customers. We often get amazing feedback from Mali being on site.”

When Silva approached Carmody about wanting to apply for the scholarship, it was a no-brainer. “Mali’s future with the company is as far as Mali wants to take it. We will fully back him. He’s an integral part of the team. It’s positive for Mali, positive for us and positive for our customer base.” 

Visit mito.nz/scholarships to find out how to apply for funding.