Trades Academy
Trades Academy opens doors for secondary school students who want to stay at school but are ready to start training for employment or explore vocational options.
The Top of the South Trades Academy (TOTSTA) enables secondary school students to train for a job or explore suitable career options while still at school. Work towards your NCEA while gaining practical work skills and experiencing what your future career could look like.
Practical and hands-on, there are lots of options to choose from, and it’s completely free. Training takes place one day per week and is held at one of our campuses located in Richmond, Nelson, or Marlborough. Students from Marlborough can choose to enrol in a Nelson-based programme, and TOTSTA will provide transport to and from campus.
You can apply below by filling out the online enrolment form or by talking to your school's Trades Academy coordinator or Career Advisor.
2026 Study Areas
Nelson |
Marlborough |
| Arts and Design | Automotive Engineering |
| Automotive Engineering | Salon Skills - Hair Design and Beauty Therapy |
| Beauty Therapy | Mechanical Engineering |
| Carpentry | |
| Creative Design | |
| Gamification | |
| Hairdressing | |
| Hospitality | |
| Mechanical Engineering | |
| Sport and Exercise | |
| Aquaculture and Marine Conservation |
