Jobs secured thanks to Hawke's Bay business partnership

The work of PLP's Sarah-Jo Barley (rear left), Winz Hastings work broker Shane Sullivan, and PLP Programme Facilitator Sabrina Faletoilalo (seated left) have helped Caroline Te Nahu and Atarangi Newton. Photo / Supplied

After 30 years on a benefit, a Hawke's Bay single mother now has a job thanks to a new programme, set up through a partnership between local private and public agencies.

Carol Te Nahu - who raised 11 children 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 Ms Te Nahu now works - is a call centre that provides support to businesses through inbound and outbound phone lines, administrative support, and app services for their business clients across New Zealand and Australia.

It operates out of 14 countries worldwide.

Ms Te Nahu said the six-week work readiness programme 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, is a beneficiary of 20 years. She is now working at the Club Hastings as a kitchen hand.

"The PLP NZ team were really cool, they just accepted me as I was," Ms Newton said.

The training includes intensive mentoring and technical training, and is delivered at the PLP NZ Contact Centre in Hastings. Of the programme's eight graduates, seven have secured jobs across a diverse range of industries including banking, hospitality, IT and in customer service.

The other is undertaking vocational training.

This initiative supports Matariki - the Hawke's Bay Regional Economic Development strategy.

The Ministry of Social Development is the lead agency for Action 2.1 of the strategy, known as Project 1000. It aims to link local people on benefits to 1000 new jobs over three years.

PLP NZ's Head of Business Development Sarah-Jo Barley said the programme was about "developing skills that can actually create and sustain meaningful jobs that change lives - it's about social and economic growth and everyone benefiting".

The programme stemmed from a meeting two years ago between Ms Barley and the Business Hawke's Bay network - including Work and Income's Regional Labour Market Manager 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.

Ms Bartlett said they were looking forward to building the programme in scale.

"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."

The programme's second intake of 10 students started in June. Following the course, eight have already been placed into employment, with the others proactively seeking employment.