Horowhenua business owner keen to learn about Workforce Development Strategy

A lack of suitably-skilled staff available in Horowhenua is forcing one business owner to don tools and take to the factory floor himself just to keep up with workload.

Trayla Trailers owner Dave Hobbs currently employs two welders, but needs another two, as well as two people to assemble trailers. Currently he does the assembly himself.

"It's not like I'm looking for top qualified, highly skilled staff with fine technical abilities," he said.

"Yes, welding is a skilled job, but for assemblers all I need is a few people who know how to use a hammer, crescent and spanner to help assemble trailers, as well as sort stock, sweep the floor and maybe drive a small truck. But can I find them? No," he said.

"Employable people with suitable skills just don't seem to be around. And, it's not just now - filling vacant roles has been a struggle for the past few years."

Mr Hobbs says his frustration is shared by other business owners in Horowhenua.

"To grow our businesses we need more staff, but if we can't find staff, we're stymied."

He says he and colleagues are looking forward to hearing more about the Horowhenua Workforce Development Strategy to be presented at a meeting for local business leaders next Thursday evening in Levin.

The strategy will address the lack of suitably-skilled staff available locally - a major constraint to continued business growth in the district and one of the issues identified in the Horowhenua Economic Development Strategy 2014 – 2017.

Horowhenua Economic Development Board chairperson and Lewis Farms managing director Cameron Lewis says the plan is to develop an integrated and partnership-driven approach to match local labour needs with local training, education, and support services - currently and in the future

Mr Lewis says it is important that the business community comes together to help provide a real stock-take of industry requirements.

"It is only then we will be able to determine the current situation and ongoing issues. We can then work towards identifying opportunities, desired outcomes and the pathways to achieve these."

Mr Hobbs says he hopes the strategy can clearly identify the needs and the solutions, although he still needs to find more staff by early next year when he plans to have completed the development of a brand new custom-designed factory in the Tararua Road industrial area.

"Over the past few years, particularly through the economic recession, we've doubled our turnover, resulting in too much work for just myself and two staff."

To attend the Workforce Development Strategy launch at Horowhenua District Council on Thursday 30 October from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, please contact Shanon Grainger on 06 366 0999 or shanong@horowhenua.govt.nz

ENDS

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