ESITO’s report, An Industry Skills Strategy for the New Zealand Electricity Supply Industry- Final Report December 2006, identified three “major issues” requiring further investigation. The report, published after extensive consultation with industry, recommended the establishment of industry steering groups, supported by external experts, to examine those issues.

ESITO, which is committed to facilitating this on behalf of industry, engaged Lynlee Wilson from The People Group (TPG) to plan and facilitate the set up of industry-wide steering group(s). Lynlee holds a Master of Arts (Hons) Industrial Psychology, and specialises in organisational development, design and facilitation. She has extensive working knowledge of the utilities sector.

ESITO, with guidance from12 industry representatives, developed the structure, terms of reference and objectives for each steering group in line with industry feedback.


The steering groups will focus on:

• The future of skilled positions, project and contract managers
• The future of supervisors
• Industry pride

The first regional steering group meetings were held in July 2007 and the minutes and recommendations from these meetings can be found here.

Steering Group Report (summary version)
Download PDF
Based on steering group recommendations, we have implemented the following initiatives:

1. An ESI Supervisory Programme Pilot began in March 2008 in the North and South Islands. The interim evaluation is extremely positive. In line with steering groups’ recommendations, the programme was developed specifically for the industry with relevant examples and material. The pilot will be evaluated in September. The evaluation and recommendations will be released at the Industry Training Forum in October 2008.
2. A High Performance Profile working group met in May 2008. A draft performance profile was submitted to the steering groups for comment and this has now been edorsed.  An outline of the High Performance Profile and a recruitment and performance toolkit is now available on this website.  Click here to access.
3. ESITO commissioned a “mock up” of a potential media campaign to promote the ESI. This was endorsed by the steering groups in May 2008 and will be presented to the ESITO Board in September 2008.

Update January 2009

Supervisory Programme
The Supervisory programme is now available to the ESI after a successful pilot programme and evaluation. To access information on the programme, please click here. If you wish to download a copy of the evaluation please click here.

Industry Pride
The campaign is currently before the ESITO Board. They are evaluating the proposal and the level of Industry Support.

For further information on any of these initiatives, please contact the ESITO Industry Standards and Development team at dougp@esito.org.nz or natalies@esito.org.nz .