The Civil Construction industry has seen a real boost on the Kapiti Coast with work on the MacKays to Peka Peka (M2PP) in full swing. With this increased construction activity here and in other parts of New Zealand the industry is experiencing a shortage of readily available skilled labour needed to complete this major piece of work.
In response to this, Work and Income in partnership with ATD Services and key players from the sectors developed specific training for our clients to get them skilled and ready to be part of this growing industry. The training programmes are proving extremely successful at getting people into work.
Since August 2014 Work and Income referred 25 Otaki clients to the training course with 20 moving into fulltime employment with the M2PP project in a variety of roles from machine operators, concrete workers, labourers and drivers.
Abbey James-Gibbons is one of these successful Otaki trainees. Abbey was made redundant from her job riding and caring for horses in early 2014 and needed financial support while she figured out her next step so applied for some assistance through Work and Income.
Through discussions with her case manager Abbey shared that she had always wanted a truck licence so was referred to the Civil Construction training course, specifically tailored to meet the needs of the M2PP project.
Abbey graduated with a class four driver’s licence and was employed by Goodmans as a heavy truck driver and a year on, has moved through the ranks to Head Driver on the M2PP project.
Goodmans HR manager Ruth Surrey has had complimentary calls from supervisors about the Work and Income graduates. “They’ve really come up to the mark or over, we are really pleased.”
If you are a Work and Income client and interested in joining this exciting workforce, contact Work Broker Marian Walker on 04 903 0913 or 029 200 9120.
[quote_box_right]
The Otaki Mail is delighted to host a column from Work & Income, who have responded to our offer of space to tell of employment opportunities.
[/quote_box_right]