Giving students a start

Career starters

78 GIVING STUDENTS A START 80 I COULD BE…

GIVING STUDENTS A START Regional Education to Employment Coordinators are on hand to help employers engage with students and schools, as Hutt Valley Coordinator Amanda Walters explains.

Many of us started working in jobs that were offered to us because of who we knew—usually a relative, neighbour or parents. It was relatively easy to get a foot in the door. CVs, cover letters and formal interviews were not required.

Those of you with children will know that work experience is not as easy to obtain as it once was. Most opportunities for a student to connect into the plumbing industry happen through the Gateway programme. It is today’s reality that students are often not ‘work ready’ when they leave college, as they’ve had little or no engagement with an employer. Support Programme: a cross-agency government response to help employers retain and retrain new apprentices.

Sharing your knowledge It is critical that your vast plumbing knowledge and skills are shared in schools, to ensure students learn about all construction-related trades and to continue the pipeline into employment for the next generation of workers.

You have practical skills and connections that would be of great benefit to these young people. Taking this opportunity to engage with them helps increase their work readiness skills.

‘Middle person’ support New funding initiatives to help employers connect and engage with students and schools include 25 regional Education to Employment Coordinators to act as the ‘middle person’ between schools and employers. Their role is to support employers to connect with schools and provide information on the Apprenticeship To contact your nearest Education to Employment Coordinator, email employer. engagement@education.govt.nz www.connected.govt.nz is the government’s one-stop-shop for employers wanting answers to education, employment and training questions, and includes direct links to relevant information on funding.

High-school students getting a taste for the building industry through a visit from a commercial construction business.

ENGAGING WITH SCHOOLS

Provide in-demand work experiences.

Connecting with employers helps raise students’ knowledge of work ready skills required

Help inform students about previously unknown industries

Inform young people about your work and how your industry supports your local community

Instil confidence in our young people. FIRST STEPS

Talk about your job with a class in your region

Contact your local Education to

Employment Coordinator

Approach careers staff at local secondary schools

Volunteer at a local careers expo to inform students about your industry and the different roles available

WHY SHOULD LOCAL EMPLOYERS ENGAGE WITH SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS?

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

Undertaking work experience helps students build their work-ready skills

Young people who have four or more engagements with employers are five times less likely to become

NEET (not in education, employment or training) than peers without this engagement.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH SCHOOLS?

FURTHER ENGAGEMENT

Host a tour of your workplace for small groups of students

Offer students the opportunity to have work experience at your business

Engage in local employer

SpeedMeets when you have roles available for young people BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Your opportunity to give back to your community and local schools

Increase your workforce and build your reputation

Helps increase staff confidence and leadership skills

Increase your network

Having an important part in shaping the futures of local students and

their careers. ONGOING ENGAGEMENT

Find out more about local Gateway programmes and take part where you can

Support topics students study at school by offering your skills and knowledge of your industry

If opportunities arise, think about offering an apprenticeship, job shadowing or part-time work to a young person.

This diagram shows ways that employers can connect with students to help them transition into employment and engage with the world of work while still at school.