Project helps older workers, migrants

Westpac has come up with a novel employment solution that involves the bank working closely with other employers and the wider community to help people gain work skills, confidence and employment.

Recognising it was not able to employ some applicants for positions the bank developed partnerships with other key players.

If Westpac could not employ a candidate, it referred them to another potential source of employment within the umbrella of their project partners.

For example, one solution is in its partnership with Restaurant Brands.

Many of the jobseekers involved in the project are mature workers, new migrants and back-to-work mothers who may need training or lack recent New Zealand work experience.

"The aim is to strengthen the jobseekers' skills, and build their confidence in the hope that they can secure a job in the short-term, but also bearing in mind that further down the line, they may become motivated and loyal Westpac staff or customers," says Simon Harvey, community employment manager.

"As well as providing a hugely rewarding benefit to all those involved, it's proving to be a great recruitment channel." In the past year the programme has grown, and in April alone, Westpac placed 13 candidates.

One placement was a new migrant who has an MBA qualification but had been on the unemployment benefit as she had been unable to find work.

She now works within one of the premium areas of the company.

Each case is handled with a nurturing and caring approach says Harvey. "We find out what each person is about, their strengths and skills and how they can fit in our organisation, those of our strategic partners' and the community. While our primary goal is to find Westpac team, we centre on what's best for the individual. If we find great people who will have better sustainable careers with our partners, we move them in that direction".

Westpac is working closely with the Ministry of Social Development which has been a core partner in the development of the programme. Those companies that are supporting the programme, or are thinking of joining, include Vodafone, Air New Zealand, Auckland City Council, Carter Holt Harvey and Restaurant Brands.

The next step of the programme centres on mothers returning to the workforce.

Discussions have begun with schools, Unitec and Auckland University about partnering students with mothers to offer employers total year employment solutions that cater for the needs of the individuals.