Beneficiary finds plum job in the trades

Daisylee Rogers has taken up a plumber, gas fitter and drain layer apprenticeship. Photo / Andrew Warner

Daisylee Rogers' apprenticeship journey began with a letter to a potential employer after she was made redundant because of Covid.

The jobless former draftsperson for the building industry wrote to BOP Plumbing & Gas Ltd in Rotorua last year- and more than six months later she was given the opportunity to prove herself.

''I asked if they could take me on to do labouring or if they were looking for an apprentice anytime soon. I was so keen.''

"I met them to chat but at that time they didn't have anything.

''But they offered to take me on for one day a week to see how I went and that is how it all happened.''

The 23-year-old started her plumber, gasfitter and drainlayer apprenticeship last month and it will take her about five years to qualify.

She was inspired into plumbing by her partner who is a builder.

''He was telling me about the plumbers on his jobs and I thought 'wow that is so cool'. Now it seems a lot of women are trying to get into the trades, which also gave me a big push.''

Rogers liked the diversity plumbing offered, the different skill sets and the physical aspect of the job.

''I don't like being cooped up in an office all day and I really enjoy being outdoors. The people I work with are also great.''

Competitive by nature, Rogers has set high standards for herself.

''I just want to be really good at it and try my best.''

Rogers was supported by the Ministry for Social Development when she was on the job-seekers benefit. They also gave her a grant, which she hopes to use to buy tools, she said.

Ministry for Social Development Bay of Plenty regional commissioner Mike Bryant. Photo / File

Ministry for Social Development Bay of Plenty regional commissioner Mike Bryant said
although it had been a very challenging year, thousands of Bay beneficiaries had got jobs.

Data shows between July 1 and December 31 last year, 5255 Bay of Plenty people left the benefit system to go into work.

These included 2180 beneficiaries from the Western Bay of Plenty and 1268 from Rotorua.

''We remain committed to doing everything we can to connect job seekers with employers,'' Bryant said.

The ministry worked with local partners like Chambers of Commerce, Employers and Manufacturers Association, NZKGI, FICA and economic development agencies including Priority One and Grow Rotorua, as well as iwi representatives.

Jobseekers were finding opportunities in sectors like hospitality, roofing, construction, administration and forestry alongside apprenticeships in butchery, hairdressing, carpentry and electrical.

The Government was also committed to expanding Flexi-Wage to assist businesses hire up to an additional 40,000 New Zealanders, he said.

MSD job initiatives

• Pop-Up-Job shops connect jobseekers with potential employers and are held across the Bay of Plenty.

• No-fee recruitment service and suite of products and programmes designed to get Kiwis into work and to stay in work.

• Supporting the kiwifruit industry with its recruitment needs. Assistance may be available for transport and additional costs to help ensure people get the best start to their job.

• Employment opportunities on the Work the Seasons website http://www.worktheseason.co.nz

• An industry partnership approach where we can support industry or individual employers with tailored employment programmes. http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/employers/

Covid Support

• Rapid Return to Work: a phone-based employment service supporting people who have recently been displaced from their job by providing CV and cover-letter support, job interview preparation and assessing transferable skills and referring them to available job opportunities.

• Expansion to Mana in Mahi: increasing the length of time and amount of support that participants can receive and increasing the amount of Wage Subsidy employers receive.

• Connected: co-ordinating the delivery of all-of-government employment, education and training services through the Connected website, 0800 phone line and Connected spaces at Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Whakatane and across New Zealand.

• Work and Income recruitment tool: a free job board that enables employers to list jobs and connect with job seekers.

• Work the Seasons: adding accommodation listings to job postings on the portal.

- Source Ministry for Social Development