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Training partnership for local job-seekers a success

Training partnership for local job-seekers a success


14 August 2017

After 30 years on a benefit, Carol Te Nahu now has a job thanks to a new private/public training partnership for local job-seekers.

Carol, the mother of 11 children she raised alone, is one of eight graduates of the inaugural Work Readiness programme delivered by Hastings-based company People Linking People (PLP NZ), in partnership with Work and Income.

PLP NZ, where Carol is now employed, is fundamentally a call centre that provides support to businesses through inbound and outbound phone lines and administrative support and app services for their business clients across New Zealand and Australia. The company forms part of the PLP Group founded in South Africa in 1992 and operates out of 14 countries world-wide.

Sarah-Jo Barley PLP NZ’s Head of Business Development says the six-week Work Readiness programme of intensive mentoring and technical training is delivered at the PLP NZ Contact Centre.

“It’s all about developing skills that can actually create and sustain meaningful jobs that change lives – it’s about social and economic growth and everyone benefitting.”

For Carol, the training has had an immediate and significant positive impact on her life.

“I’ve raised my kids and now it’s my time. The Work Readiness training has lifted my confidence so much. To actually apply for a job and to end up getting it, you’ve got no idea what it does for you. I love it here.”

Another graduate, Atarangi Newton, was a beneficiary for 20 years before taking part in the inaugural PLP NZ Work Readiness programme. She is now working at the Hastings Club in the catering sector.

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“The PLP NZ team were really cool, they just accepted me as I was. Our trainer Sabrina has been amazing, she definitely brought out the new me. Now that I’m working, I really miss the PLP NZ contact. I have lifelong friendships here, I try to visit them every day, I can’t rave enough about it.”

The seeds of this economic development success were planted more than two years ago when Sarah-Jo Barley met members of the Business Hawke’s Bay network including Regional Labour Market Manager for Work and Income, Karen Bartlett. The pair discussed recruitment of locals for the contact centre being established in Hastings at that time, and then explored the idea of setting up a training partnership for local job-seekers.

Now seven of the eight first graduates have been placed in jobs across a diverse range of industries

including banking, hospitality, IT and in customer service. The remaining graduate has taken on vocational training. The programme’s second intake of ten students began their journey towards employment on 12 June. On completion of their six-week course, eight have already been placed into employment, with the others proactively seeking employment.

Work and Income is looking forward to building the PLP NZ Work Readiness training programme in scale and in scope, says Karen Bartlett.

“This initiative is improving pathways to and through employment, and thus supports Work Area 2 of Matariki – Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy. The Ministry of Social Development is the lead agency for Action 2.1, known as Project 1000, the goal of which is to link local people on benefits to 1,000 new jobs over three years.”

“This particular programme offers hope for job seekers and relief to our businesses unable to fill roles that are so essential to their growth. A thriving economy in Hawke’s Bay benefits everyone - financially, economically, and socially.”

“It really is about people linking people.”

ends

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