What Careerforce does

Careerforce is a New Zealand Industry Training Organisation (ITO) founded in 1994 and headquartered in Auckland, delivering work-based vocational training and NZQA-approved qualifications across nine sectors: aged care, cleaning, disability support, healthcare services, home and community support, mental health and addiction support, social services, urban pest management, and youth work. The organization operates an employer-led delivery model in which Regional Workplace Advisors partner with employers nationwide to design customized training plans, while internally identified workplace assessors evaluate trainees on-site using the proprietary REAL (Respectful, Efficient, Applied, Living) methodology, avoiding productivity loss from classroom release.

The technology stack consists of three interconnected platforms: Aka Toi, a self-paced online learning and assessment system accessible across desktop, tablet and mobile devices; iportal, an administrative portal for trainees, assessors and employers to track progress, submit results and generate reports; and Jobs for Good, a free job portal that connects job seekers with care, support, cleaning and pest management roles. Careerforce's product portfolio includes certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, micro-credentials and short courses, supplemented by Māori and Pacific learner support units, free Vitae 24/7 counselling, and academic-integrity tooling via Copyleaks.

Revenue is generated primarily through government funding from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) as a recognized ITO, supplemented by employer-paid enrolment fees (NZD $200-$230 per certificate), Apprenticeship Boost subsidies (NZD $500/month for eligible first-year apprentices), and co-funding arrangements with industry partners. The customer base is highly distributed across NGOs, aged residential care providers, primary healthcare facilities, cleaning firms, and community organizations. Careerforce has been part of Te Pūkenga since 2021 under the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) and is currently navigating a transition following Te Pūkenga's announced disestablishment.

Name

Careerforce

Legal name

Careerforce

Website

https://careerforce.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Careerforce is a New Zealand Industry Training Organisation delivering NZQA-approved, employer-led work-based training and apprenticeships across nine health, wellbeing, social services, cleaning, and pest management sectors nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Workforce Development

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Work-based learning
• Industry training organization
• Health workforce development
• Apprenticeship programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Training: Careerforce receives government funding through the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) as an Industry Training Organisation (ITO). Training programmes are subsidized for eligible learners and employers.
2. Employer Enrolment Fees: Employers pay enrolment fees for staff to enrol in training programmes. Fees vary by qualification level and programme type, ranging from $200 NZD to $230 NZD for certificates.
3. Apprenticeship Boost Funding: $500/month funding available for eligible first-year apprentices through government Apprenticeship Boost programme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Careerforce is a New Zealand Industry Training Organisation (ITO) that delivers work-based, employer-led training programmes leading to NZQA-approved qualifications across health, mental health, elder care, disability, and social services sectors. Training is delivered through its Aka Toi online learning platform and iportal management system, allowing trainees to earn while they learn on the job without leaving the workplace. The organisation is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission and supported by a nationwide network of Regional Workplace Advisors.

Product overview

Careerforce offers a unified work-based learning ecosystem comprising three interconnected platforms: Aka Toi (the online learning management system), iportal (the administrative portal for tracking training progress and managing results), and a suite of Health and Wellbeing training programmes (including certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, and micro-credentials). The platform is complemented by Jobs for Good (a free job portal) and integrated tools such as Copyleaks for academic integrity. Careerforce operates as an Industry Training Organisation (ITO) delivering employer-led, on-the-job training programmes across nine sectors: Aged Care, Cleaning, Disability Support, Healthcare Services, Home & Community Support, Mental Health & Addiction Support, Social Services, Urban Pest Management, and Youth Work. Qualifications are NZQA-approved and lead to nationally recognised New Zealand Certificates and Diplomas. Support services include free counselling, Māori learner support (Rōpū Taupuhipuhi Āmio), and Pacific learner support (Talanoa sessions).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• iportal Online portal that allows trainees to access profiles and training progress reports, assessors to manage trainees and submit results, and employers to download reports and track learner progress.
• Aka Toi Careerforce's online learning and assessment platform providing self-paced, bite-sized learning modules accessible on desktops, tablets, and smartphones, integrated with Copyleaks plagiarism detection.
• Health and Wellbeing Training Programmes Work-based training programmes leading to nationally recognised New Zealand qualifications (certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, micro-credentials) across health, wellbeing, social and community sectors.
• Jobs for Good Free job portal connecting employers in health and wellbeing, care and support, social and community, cleaning, and urban pest management sectors with job seekers.
• Free Counselling Service (Vitae) Professional counselling service provided free to all learners through Vitae employee assistance provider, accessible 24/7 via phone and smartphone app.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000th apprenticeship completed in December 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pest Management Association of New Zealand (PMANZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareerforce works with PMANZ as industry partner to deliver urban pest management programmes and on-the-job learning opportunities for pest control technicians. PMANZ represents industry interests and helps ensure training aligns with sector needs.
• Cleaning SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareerforce partners with Cleaning Systems to deliver urban pest management programmes. Collaboration ensures training meets industry standards and technician needs.
• Te PoucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Pou provides Training Grants for disability workforce development. Careerforce guides employers through funding opportunities including Te Pou Training Grants to support employee growth.
• NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareerforce awards NZQA-approved qualifications. Assessment results are submitted to NZQA for registration on learners' Records of Achievement. NZQA certificates are issued upon qualification completion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Te Pūkenga: Te Pūkenga is the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Learning and parent entity of Careerforce, formed through the Reform of Vocational Education. It is the broadest vocational education incumbent in NZ, subsuming multiple ITOs and polytechnics.
• TAFE Queensland: TAFE Queensland is one of Australia's largest vocational education providers, offering work-based and classroom training across health, community services and trades. It is comparable as a publicly-funded broad vocational training institution with overlapping health and community program offerings.
• Open Polytechnic of New Zealand: Open Polytechnic is a New Zealand government-funded distance and online learning provider offering vocational programs including health and community qualifications. It is comparable as a state-funded tertiary provider offering NZQA-approved qualifications in overlapping subject areas.

Direct peers

• Competenz: Competenz is another New Zealand Industry Training Organisation, focused on engineering, manufacturing and trades sectors. It operates the same employer-led, work-based apprenticeship and traineeship model as Careerforce, making it a directly comparable ITO peer.
• ServiceIQ: ServiceIQ is a New Zealand ITO serving the service industries including hospitality, retail, travel and aviation. It mirrors Careerforce's model of government-funded, employer-led workplace training delivering NZQA-approved qualifications to industry sectors.

Regional players

• Health Education and Training Institute (HETI): HETI is the NSW Health dedicated education and training institute in Australia, delivering vocational and clinical training to the health workforce. It is a comparable specialized health-sector training body operating across a different jurisdiction with similar employer-embedded learning programs.
• Manukau Institute of Technology: MIT is a New Zealand institute of technology providing vocational and applied training across health, social services and trades. It overlaps with Careerforce in serving the Auckland regional market and offering work-relevant qualifications to community-sector employers.

Emerging players

• SkillsIQ Australia: SkillsIQ is an Australian Skills Service Organisation that develops national training package qualifications and supports industry workforce skilling across service sectors. It overlaps with Careerforce's role in defining and maintaining competency standards for community-facing industries.

Others

• NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority): NZQA is the government body responsible for quality assurance of NZ qualifications and the body to which Careerforce submits assessments. It is comparable as a regulatory counterparty in the vocational training ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• Tertiary Education Commission (TEC): TEC is the New Zealand government body that funds and oversees vocational education, including Careerforce as an ITO. It is comparable as the principal funder and policy counterpart rather than a direct service competitor, but shapes the entire addressable market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Careerforce