Make the most out of school

Choose a trade today

Ready for a real job - not ready to leave school?

The Top of the South Trades Academy is opening doors for students like you, who want to stay at school but are ready to start training for a real job.

If you’re accepted into the Trades Academy, you’ll be able to stay at school completing NCEA, while at the same time working towards a qualification in a trade of your choice.

Practical and hands-on

Trades Academy training is practical and hands-on and there are lots of options to choose from. You can learn anything from mechanical engineering and aquaculture, to hairdressing and hospitality. You’ll learn heaps of useful skills to help you go on to further study or get a job right out of school. The best part is, it’s free!

Training is either one day a week at one of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s (NMIT) campuses in Richmond, Nelson and Blenheim; in residential blocks at Whenua Iti Outdoors; or at other hubs in Nelson & Marlborough.

Join us to celebrate our student achievements

in Trades Academy at the coming events....

Hair & Beauty Showcase - Marlborough

Students in the Hairdressing and Beauty programmes based at NMIT in Blenheim recently spent the day showcasing their skills and expertise. To read more about this great day click here.

TOTSTA NMIT Showcase & Grass Kart Competition

Friday 19th October 2018

This year will see the inaugural combined Grass Karts competition and TOTSTA NMIT Showcase, which will be hosted by Tapawera Area School. Students in the following programmes from both Nelson and Marlborough will take part in a day of competitions and demonstrations – Hairdressing and Beauty, Hospitality, Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Engineering. This will be an exciting opportunity for students to demonstrate the skills they have perfected over the previous three terms and will culminate in a series of competitions and showcase demonstrations by students. View information flyer here.