Skills acquires ME shares in ICE

Skills Group has acquired the shares held by Master Electricians (ME) in trades training provider Industry Connection for Excellence Limited (ICE) to assume full ownership of the Private Training Establishment (PTE).

ME held a 30% shareholding in ICE arising from its sale of electrical training provider Etco to Skills in 2023. The sale of Etco by ME was to help facilitate the establishment of a specialist trades school within Skills.

Skills Group CEO Rosanne Graham says the Group has bought ME’s shares to enable it achieve a further consolidation of its wider PTE businesses.

“ME choosing to now sell its shares in ICE further supports this process,” she said.

Chairman of ME Colin Smith said that ME was pleased with the progress Skills was making towards the shared vision of a specialist trades school.

“Today’s decision enables Skills to press forward with its business strategy and ME is able to invest the value it has received from the transaction to further its own strategic direction in support of the Electrical Industry,” he said.

About Skills Group

Skills Group is a New Zealand-based organisation with offices and campuses in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and the United States.  It’s purpose is maximising human potential. It offers Corporate Learning through Skills Development Group, cdl insight consulting (careeer transition coaching) and Instep (employee health and wellbeing), as well as Vocational Learning and Specialist Trades training through its PTEs, comprising Ignite (apprenticeships and pathways to careers in nine industries), Premier (hair, barbering and nail technology), Etco (electrical apprenticeships), ICE Plumbing and Roofing (plumbing, drainage, gasfitting) and e-tec (advanced electrical).

About ICE

ICE is one of Skills Group’s PTEs, comprising ICE Plumbing and Roofing with premises in East Tāmaki, Otaki, Christchurch and Dunedin, offering apprentices qualifications in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (PGD), Roofing and Electrotechnology. ICE also comprises, Etco, the country’s leading provider of electrical training and apprenticeships, (with campuses in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin) and E-tec a national training provider for New Zealand’s electrotechnology and telecommunications industries.

About Master Electricians (ME)

Master Electricians is the industry organisation that represents, promotes

and protects the interests of the electrical industry in New Zealand. It represents over 1,300 electrical contracting businesses throughout the country.  It provides its members with a range of support services and continuous professional development to better enable the industry to support the energy transition and the electrification of New Zealand, and  advocates for the industry and its members in a range of areas including standards, regulations and safety https://www.masterelectricians.org.nz