Father of Five on the Road to Success

MEDIA RELEASE – 9 October 2013

Father of Five on the Road to Success

Sefo Loakimi is a man on a mission. Not only is he a father of five children aged thirteen to one and a half, he is only four weeks away from finishing his engineering qualification (the Certificate in Engineering – Fabrication Level 3) at WelTec and he has secured a job with Workzone Scaffolds in Lower Hutt. “Not just any job,” says his new employer Graham Burke, Managing Director. “This is a job with real opportunities, real money and the ability to move into medium and senior management over time.”

Sefo (pictured above) is “really happy” to have this opportunity. “A job for me means my family and I are on the road to success. My partner and I can now save for a wedding – something we have wanted to do, but my study has been my focus over the past two years.”

Graham Burke sees the benefits in giving new graduates a chance to work in the scaffolding and construction industry. “Graduates with maths and engineering skills are what we require. Sefo has a comprehensive knowledge of producing formal engineering working drawings and undertaking fabrication calculations so his skills will be valuable to the company.

“There is a significant skills shortage in this industry. We are looking for people who’ve got ambition and drive and who are dead keen to do the job. Sefo, with his engineering qualification, has a head start in this industry and the potential to go far.”

Along with employing Sefo, Graham is working with WelTec to have one or two civil or mechanical engineers on cadetships with Workzone Scaffolds. “We are very keen on employing people who are aspiring to higher qualifications. We need people who are skilled in the structural disciplines. WelTec students and graduates are ideal as the practical merges with the theoretical in the training provided. Cadetships also provide the opportunity for a student to really experience our industry and see if it might be right for them.”

Graham started his business almost fifteen years ago and employs around twenty people. This is a particularly busy time of year for his business. “The earthquakes, storms and general work for the construction industry means we are very busy on jobs. By the look of the weather today we might be getting even busier.”

WelTec is hosting an employer event on Thursday 10 October where construction and engineering graduates can meet prospective employers. See www.weltec.ac.nz for information.

ENDS

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