Mito – Apprenticeship Mentoring and Day Release Courses

Automotive Apprentice mentorship and training

Smart Trade Solutions LTD works alongside MITO (Motor Industry Training Organisation) to support Automotive apprentices in succeeding in their apprenticeships through MITO's structured mentorship programme, and Day Release courses.

Mō Te Kaupapa

About The Project


The team at Smart Trade Solutions have decades of experience working in and alongside the Motor Industry in New Zealand, and have an absolute passion for developing the industry, its businesses and its people.

We are fortunate enough to have the opportunity through our work alongside MITO to utilse our industry expertise while traversing the regions delivering Day Release Courses and overseeing the mentorship of Automotive Apprentices.

We find our work with Apprentices incredibly rewarding, we enjoy the process of watching them develop as Trade Professionals and seeing the impact of a lifelong, fulfilling and sustainable career can have on their lives.




MITO Day Release Courses and Apprentice Mentoring Services

To Tatou Ratonga

Nā wai hei āwhina

Who we can help

Automotive Apprentices via MITO referral

Automotive employers who seek employee training via MITO day release courses


Me pēhea te āwhina

How we can help

Many and varied industry training topics across the Automotive Trades

Many and varied industry training locations throughout Aotearoa New Zealand

24/7 Support for Apprentices

Employer support

Training and apprenticeship advice


He aha tatou i whiriwhiri ai?

Why choose us

Tutaki ki te kapa

Meet The Team

RICHARD LUNN

DIRECTOR

MARSH WILLIAMS

TRAINING MANAGER

CONTRACTOR NETWORK

PROJECT SUPPORT

News & updates - Scholarship Announcements!

FMG & Women in Collision Repair Rural Apprentice Support Scholarships

We’re excited to announce the FMG & Women in Collision Repair Rural Apprentice Support Scholarships, created to support wāhine undertaking a collision repair or automotive refinishing apprenticeship in a rural or regional community.

These scholarships are about more than financial support. They’re about helping remove some of the barriers that can make completing an apprenticeship harder, and backing the next generation of women building careers in our industry.

Five scholarships of $1,000 are available, providing support towards rural fuel costs and flexible apprenticeship needs.

If you’re a wāhine apprentice working towards a future in collision repair or refinishing, this could be for you.

Keep your eyes peeled for the scholarship fact sheet, which will be uploaded on 1 October, with applications opening the same day.

Applications will be open from 1 October to 31 October 2026, and we’ll be eagerly awaiting your applications.

Watch this space, get ready, and start thinking about how this support could help you take your apprenticeship to the next level!


News & updates - The Future of Collision Repair event– What a Day!

From inspiring the next generation to giving apprentices a voice, the Future of Collision Repair event brought our industry together in Hamilton.

The Future of Collision Repair Discovery Day brought close to 50 young wāhine into the industry for a hands-on look at what a career in collision repair can really look like. Starting at Prestige Collision Repair, students got behind the scenes, explored the workshop and learned more about the people, skills and opportunities that make up our industry, before heading to Auto Body Equipment for an afternoon of hands-on activities and technology.

That evening, the conversation continued at the Future of Collision Repair themed CRA Roadshow, bringing apprentices, employers and industry partners together for an evening focused on connection, learning and the future of our trade.

A key part of the evening was giving apprentices the opportunity to have their voices heard. We asked them what they wished employers understood, what mattered most to them as apprentices, and what we could do better to support them. Their responses were honest, thoughtful and incredibly valuable, with some clear themes emerging around time, support and opportunity.

The message was simple: apprentices want to learn, improve and build their skills. They just need the time, support and opportunities to do it.

It was a fantastic day and evening, and a great reminder of what can happen when industry comes together to connect, inspire and empower the next generation of collision repair professionals.

A Huge Thank You

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the Future of Collision Repair Discovery Day and themed CRA Roadshow such a success.

Events like this take a real team effort, and we are incredibly grateful to the organisations, sponsors and people who gave their time, resources and support to help us connect, inspire and empower the next generation of collision repair professionals.


Our Collaborators

  • Collision Repair Association (CRA), CNI Regional Branch
  • Auto Body Equipment (ABE)
  • Prestige Collision Repairs
  • WICR Role Models – Emma Simpson, Victoria Hine and Jodie Fox


With Thanks to Our Sponsors

  • Sherwin-Williams
  • AMI
  • Star Insure
  • MITO
  • FMG
  • Resene
  • Audi
  • Surventis
  • European Motor Distributors
  • 3M

Official Technology Partner: Partly



Apprentice Voice – What They Told Us

We asked apprentices three simple questions, and their answers gave us some powerful insight into what matters when learning the trade.

At the Future of Collision Repair CRA Roadshow, apprentices were invited to share what they wished employers understood, what mattered most to them, and how the industry could better support them. Their anonymous responses highlighted three clear themes: time, support and opportunity.

Here’s what they told us…


Testimonials / Whakaaturanga

What our stakeholders have to say

If you are interested in this service for yourself or someone you know, get in touch today!

Kei te pirangi koe ki te mahi tahi?

Would you like to Collaborate?

We would love to get involved with any relevant mahi (work) that helps us to help others, so if you would like to collaborate Smart Trade Solutions LTD, we would like to hear from you...


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