Project Phoenix event for those who have recently lost their jobs, facilitated by WORKit, a joint venture between South Waikato District Council (SWDC) and the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs. Photo: Supplied/South Waikato District Council
After a year of high-profile factory closures and job losses, South Waikato is shifting focus to ensure the district has the best future employment and training opportunities.
Those with businesses in the district say it is still ripe for growth and employment.
South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) chief executive Clive Somerville said the message from local and central government this year had been that evidence was needed to know how best to ensure the local workforce was fit-for-purpose for the future.
"Opportunities to upskill within the region are vital, but it's important that they're aligned with the skills businesses need to achieve their longer-term goals," he said.
The charitable trust hired Veros to lead the work and Somerville encouraged local businesses to engage with the strategy development. He said hiring Veros made sense, as funding decisions must be evidence led.
"We always look for what is a social return on investment, what does the evidence say, what does the community say is needed and those are the things we certainly put into the mix."
An initiative already supported by SWIFT included a programme to provide every student of the district an opportunity to get their drivers licence before they leave school, ensuring they are more work ready.
Nothing Naughty Production and Process Manager Bruce Sherman. Photo: RNZ/Libby Kirkby-McLeod
One business in South Waikato with big goals is supplement and health food manufacturer Nothing Naughty, which moved its headquarters to Tīrau in 2019 and is still growing.
Production and process manager Bruce Sherman said the district had a lot going for it.
"It's a great central hub for freight," he said. "We've got access to Tauranga Port, if we want to export, good lines into Auckland and Hamilton, and it's got a really good labour force as well."
Sherman expected AI to be very disruptive, but said the skill of problem-solving was always transferable - and trainable.
"When you teach a person a trade, what you're fundamentally teaching them is problem solving," he said. "You teach them how to solve problems, how to analyse a problem, come up with a solution and execute that solution effectively.
"Those are really skills that transfer into any manufacturing or any service industry."
He thought having the right courses taught in good local facilities would have a big impact in the district.
"If we get support from government to put the right training in place, then I think we can really make generational changes for our community," Sherman said.
In July, polytechnic provider Toi Ohomai consulted on closing its Tokoroa campus.
This decision had not gone ahead, and Sherman and Somerville both welcomed the news the training provider was staying, but both also said it was important the training offered was appropriate for what future employers in the area wanted and needed.
"I just think that the best way we can help our community grow and prosper is to be inspirational, and to show them that the more skills they can acquire that provide value, the better lives they're going to have and the more enjoyable lives they have in the future," said Sherman.
One local buoyant about South Waikato was Nulook Gateway Glass and Aluminium director Shawn Evans.
He said plenty local businesses weren't reliant on forestry and many were looking for staff. Evans would like to see more defined training locally.
Shawn Evans, director at Nulook Gateway Glass and Aluminium. Photo: RNZ/Libby Kirkby-McLeod
"The schools need to really focus on the opportunities that are available in Tokoroa and probably become more pro-active with the businesses here.
"Look at the businesses that are growing or wanting to grow, and have the work available and maybe point kids more towards those areas."
Evans said a few of his employees were close to retirement and they needed younger workers to pass skills on to.
Meanwhile, a Project Phoenix event last week provided workers impacted by the Oji and Carter Holt Harvey mill closures with an opportunity to look at training and work options.
Speaking about the event, council chief executive Susan Law said its focus was on people in the community first.
"We want our people to stay here, to thrive here and to feel supported here," she said. "This programme isn't just about finding another job - it's about making sure workers and their whānau are looked after, connected to their community and given the chance to build their future in South Waikato."
Evans certainly thought a good future could be built in the district. Despite the tough year, he said South Waikato was still a great, safe, affordable place to live and work, and one that had helped him build a good life for himself, his family and employees.
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