NextWork: Training New Zealand’s Cloud Workforce for the Digital Era
When cloud computing began reshaping global industries, few anticipated how deeply it would redefine professional training. In New Zealand, one startup is ensuring that no one is left behind in this transformation. NextWork, founded by Amber Winton in 2021, is helping learners build the skills needed to thrive in the era of Amazon Web Services and cloud-based enterprise tools.
From Corporate Trainer to Founder
Before founding NextWork, Amber Winton worked as a Salesforce trainer. Her experience teaching business teams how to adapt to digital systems revealed a persistent gap between what companies expected and what workers actually understood. Many professionals lacked access to affordable, structured training in cloud technologies, especially outside major cities.
Winton saw an opportunity to close that gap. She envisioned a platform where anyone could learn cloud computing from scratch, advance at their own pace, and eventually qualify for higher-level technical roles. In 2021, she turned that vision into NextWork, an edtech startup based in Wellington that blends accessibility with depth.
Building a Personalized Learning Platform
NextWork’s platform focuses on Amazon Web Services (AWS), one of the most in-demand skill sets in today’s tech landscape. It offers free introductory courses for beginners and a paid tier for intermediate and advanced learners preparing for AWS certifications. The platform adapts to a learner’s progress, recommending content and exercises based on individual performance.
Each module combines video tutorials, live mentoring sessions, and project-based learning. Learners can simulate real-world cloud setups, deploy virtual servers, and troubleshoot common configuration errors in a controlled environment. This approach gives them practical experience instead of just theoretical understanding.
What distinguishes NextWork from other training sites is its emphasis on career progression. The company partners with local employers and recruitment agencies to connect top students with job placements and internships. By aligning course design with labor-market needs, Winton ensures that training leads to measurable outcomes.
Empowering Learners Beyond the Classroom
Winton’s philosophy centers on inclusion. She built NextWork to lower barriers for those who cannot afford expensive boot camps or formal degrees. The free courses introduce fundamental AWS concepts such as data storage, computing, and security management. Learners can then upgrade to the paid program once they are confident in their foundational skills.
This tiered model has resonated strongly in New Zealand’s regional communities. Many participants come from non-technical backgrounds teachers, accountants, and small-business owners, looking to digitize their operations. By learning at their own pace, they acquire relevant skills without leaving their jobs or relocating to major urban centers.
Funding and Strategic Growth
In April 2024, NextWork raised 2.3 million US dollars in a pre-seed funding round led by GD1 (Global From Day One), a Wellington-based venture capital firm known for supporting early-stage tech innovators. The investment validated NextWork’s model of accessible, modular education and provided resources to scale its platform infrastructure.
With this funding, Winton’s team plans to expand its curriculum to include advanced topics such as cloud architecture, data analytics, and DevOps automation. NextWork is also developing AI-powered coaching tools that will analyze learners’ progress and suggest personalized study paths. The goal is to make professional upskilling as intuitive as using a fitness app, tailored, measurable, and motivating.
Positioning New Zealand in the Global Skills Race
New Zealand’s technology sector is growing rapidly, but faces a talent shortage in cloud and cybersecurity roles. According to industry reports, thousands of new positions are expected to open over the next five years. NextWork aims to fill that gap by creating a steady pipeline of job-ready professionals trained to international standards.
The company’s partnership network now includes universities, local businesses, and cloud service providers. By aligning with AWS education programs, NextWork ensures its curriculum stays current with global certifications. The platform’s localized approach, however, gives it a distinct edge learners receive guidance from mentors who understand both international best practices and regional business needs.
A Broader Mission
Beyond skills training, Winton views NextWork as part of a larger cultural shift toward lifelong learning. She believes that digital literacy should be as fundamental as reading and writing. Her mission is not only to train developers but also to help ordinary professionals adapt to an economy driven by data and automation.
Under her leadership, NextWork has become a symbol of how local innovation can address global challenges. By making technical education flexible and human-centered, it shows that cloud transformation can empower rather than exclude.
From a single vision in Wellington to a platform shaping the nation’s digital workforce, NextWork embodies the next chapter of education, one where every learner, regardless of background, has a pathway to the cloud.
