Skills Update
Skills Update (trading as Lifeskills Training + Education) is a New Zealand vocational training provider delivering NZQA-accredited automotive, construction, and health programmes at NCEA Levels 1–3 across four campuses in Auckland and Christchurch.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersMangere, New Zealand
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Skills Update does
Skills Update, now trading as Lifeskills Training + Education, is a New Zealand-based vocational training provider delivering NZQA-accredited programmes across four campuses located in Henderson, Mangere, and Papakura (Auckland region) and Christchurch. The portfolio consists of NCEA Level 1–3 programmes in automotive engineering, construction trades (including a carpentry strand at Level 3), and a Health and Wellbeing pathway, offered through full-time, part-time, daytime, evening, weekday, and weekend class schedules to accommodate working and school-leaver learners.
The organisation's revenue is derived primarily from government-funded vocational training schemes — Youth Guarantee (no fees for eligible Level 1–3 rangatahi), Fees Free entitlements, and StudyLink-administered student loans for non-eligible learners — supplemented by MPTT (Māori Pasifika Trades Training) scholarships. Distribution is sales-led via a direct recruitment team that assists with programme selection and eligibility checks, with online applications processed through JotForm and student records managed via a SharePoint portal. There is no proprietary technology platform, patents, or AI components disclosed; the operating model relies on physical workshop infrastructure, employer partnerships for work placements, and a regional multi-campus footprint.
Ownership is private and undisclosed, with no institutional investors, funding rounds, M&A activity, leadership hires, or subsidiaries identified in the available material. The company recently underwent a 2025 rebranding from its prior "Skills Update" identity to the Lifeskills Training + Education brand and joined the MPTT whānau to broaden reach among Māori and Pasifika trades learners. No AI/ML capabilities, data assets, or proprietary digital products are evident in the source material.
Skills Update firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skills Update
- Legal name
- Lifeskills
- Website
- https://skillsupdate.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Skills Update (trading as Lifeskills Training + Education) is a New Zealand vocational training provider delivering NZQA-accredited automotive, construction, and health programmes at NCEA Levels 1–3 across four campuses in Auckland and Christchurch.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skills Update industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Education and Training
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep (EDAAANAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)
Keywords
Where Skills Update is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mangere
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices4 records
Markets served
Skills Update business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government-funded training programmes: Revenue derived from government-funded vocational training programmes including Youth Guarantee (for Level 1-3 learners who pay no course fees), Fees Free eligibility options, and potentially student loans through StudyLink for course and related costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Youth Guarantee-funded programmes (NCEA Level 1-3) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Skills Update product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skills Update, trading as Lifeskills Training + Education, delivers NZQA-accredited vocational training programmes at NCEA Levels 1–3 across automotive engineering, building and construction trades, and health and wellbeing. Programmes are delivered at four campuses in Henderson, Mangere, Papakura, and Christchurch, with full-time, part-time, daytime, evening, and weekend scheduling, government-funded Youth Guarantee and Fees Free options, and the MPTT scholarship for Māori and Pasifika learners.
Product overview
Skills Update (trading as Lifeskills) is a vocational training and education provider offering NZQA-accredited programmes. The portfolio consists primarily of automotive and construction trade programmes at NCEA Levels 1-3, delivered across multiple campuses in Auckland (Henderson, Mangere, Papakura) and Christchurch. These include vocational pathways, certificates in automotive engineering, and certificates in building/construction trade skills. The offering is complemented by the Māori Pasifika Trades Training scholarship programme and student support services. Taster programmes, foundation programmes, full-time, part-time, daytime, evening, weekday and weekend classes are available, with Fees Free options for eligible learners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vocational Pathway in Manufacturing and Technology (Automotive Sector) NCEA (Level 2) NCEA Level 2 vocational pathway programme focused on the automotive sector, delivered at Henderson, Mangere, Papakura, and Christchurch campuses for youth and adult learners seeking entry into automotive trades.
- New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) NZQA Level 3 certification programme in automotive engineering, delivered across Auckland campuses (Henderson, Mangere, Papakura) and Christchurch for learners pursuing qualified automotive engineering roles.
- New Zealand Certificate in Building, Construction, and Allied Trades Skills (Level 1) Entry-level NZQA Level 1 programme covering building, construction, and allied trades skills, available at Henderson, Mangere, Papakura, and Christchurch campuses for learners beginning their construction trades pathway.
- New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills with strand in Carpentry (Level 3) NZQA Level 3 programme specialising in construction trade skills with a carpentry strand, offered at Henderson, Mangere, and Papakura campuses for learners pursuing qualified carpentry and construction trades roles.
- Māori Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) Scholarship Scholarship programme supporting eligible Māori and Pasifika learners to pursue trades training without the burden of fees, providing practical study pathways and guidance into employment via the MPTT whānau partnership.
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduates successfully transition to employment in their chosen trade
Companies that use Skills Update
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Skills Update technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Skills Update partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MPTT (Māori Pasifika Trades Training)coreLifeskills has joined the MPTT whānau to expand trades training opportunities for Māori and Pasifika learners. This partnership provides scholarships that help eligible learners start trades training without the burden of fees, supporting practical study pathways and providing guidance into real employment.
- Local Employers and Industry SectorscoreLifeskills works in the community for community, partnering with local employers and industry sectors. Partnerships include offering work experience placements for learners, employing graduates, co-delivering training, and participating in advisory groups to shape industry training.
- StudyLinkminorFor learners not eligible for Youth Guarantee or Fees Free, StudyLink provides access to student loans and course-related costs to enable enrollment in vocational training programmes.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Skills Update competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BCITO (Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation): NZ's industry-mandated ITO for building and construction trades training, offering apprenticeships and qualifications across carpentry and allied trades. Directly comparable on the construction side of Lifeskills' portfolio, competing for the same construction employer network and learner pipeline.
- ETCO Training: NZ industry training organisation focused on electrical and related trades apprenticeships. Comparable as a specialised trades training provider competing for the same Youth Guarantee and apprentice funding pool.
- UNITEC: Auckland-based tertiary provider offering trades and vocational programmes. Comparable as a multi-campus, NZQA-accredited provider competing for the same Auckland learner market and government-funded trades enrolment.
- Ara Institute of Canterbury: Christchurch-based polytechnic delivering vocational trades including automotive engineering and construction. Directly competes with Lifeskills' Christchurch campus for the same Canterbury-region learner base and employer placement relationships.
- WelTec (Wellington Institute of Technology): Wellington-region vocational training provider offering trades programmes including automotive and construction. Comparable as a polytechnic competing for government-funded trades learners, though operating in a geography Lifeskills does not yet serve.
- Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT): Auckland-based tertiary institution offering vocational trades programmes including automotive and construction. Directly competes with Lifeskills' Auckland campuses for the same Youth Guarantee-funded rangatahi learners in the South Auckland catchment.
- VTNZ: NZ vehicle testing organisation that also operates automotive training services. Comparable to Lifeskills' automotive engineering programmes given shared focus on automotive technical skills and employer connectivity within the NZ automotive sector.
- The Skills Organisation: NZ industry training organisation providing vocational qualifications across multiple trades sectors. Comparable as a competing NZQA-recognised training and apprenticeship provider operating in similar trades segments.
Others
- Skills Consulting Group: NZ training and workforce development consultancy supporting vocational education delivery. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates in the same NZ vocational training ecosystem and partners with similar employer and government stakeholders.
Broad incumbents
- Te Pūkenga / NZIST: New Zealand's national network of polytechnics and institutes of technology, delivering a broad vocational education portfolio across trades, healthcare and business. It is comparable to Lifeskills as the dominant incumbent competing for the same Youth Guarantee and government-funded learner pool.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Skills Update social profiles
Digital presenceSkills Update compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Skills Update financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skills Update leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Skills Update funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skills Update M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skills Update
What does Skills Update do?
Skills Update, trading as Lifeskills Training + Education, delivers NZQA-accredited vocational training programmes at NCEA Levels 1–3 across automotive engineering, building and construction trades, and health and wellbeing. Programmes are delivered at four campuses in Henderson, Mangere, Papakura, and Christchurch, with full-time, part-time, daytime, evening, and weekend scheduling, government-funded Youth Guarantee and Fees Free options, and the MPTT scholarship for Māori and Pasifika learners.
Is Skills Update a public or private company?
Skills Update is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Skills Update founded?
Skills Update was founded in 1991. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Skills Update based?
Skills Update is headquartered in Mangere, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Skills Update make money?
One revenue line is on record: government-funded training programmes.
Who are Skills Update's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BCITO (Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation), ETCO Training, UNITEC, Ara Institute of Canterbury, WelTec (Wellington Institute of Technology), Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), VTNZ and The Skills Organisation. Skills Consulting Group is listed as an others. Te Pūkenga / NZIST is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Skills Update have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skills Update.
What industry is Skills Update in?
Skills Update's product category is Vocational Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAANAL, Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAO, Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs. Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.