When 22-year-old William Payne walked into Wanganui's Ali Arc factory yesterday, he was able to go straight to a machine and start being productive.
That's because the Intranz student had been mentored in that workplace for a couple of days previously, and because he arrived with engineering knowledge and had been schooled
in safe practices.
The Ali Arc factory, where he is having on-the-job training, manufactures bullbars. He said he now had the skills "to actually make stuff that gets sold".
Mr Payne has already done two years' training in automotive, his first choice of career. He tried to get an apprenticeship but had to resort to two years of temporary jobs instead.
He jumped at the chance for further training at Wanganui's new industry training school, with a job at the end of it.
"With the economy the way it is, I'm expanding my options," he said.
It's not easy for young people to find jobs, but Intranz graduates are guaranteed them.
The industry training school is now preparing for its second intake of students.
The second intake, of 15, starts in mid February. Spokesman Myles Fothergill has a shortlist of young people to interview.
The idea is for them to graduate with a National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering each, and other skills, and get jobs with one of the businesses helping to fund the school.
Three from the initial intake have already left - but all to take up jobs. Mr Fothergill considered that a success.
The school was now looking for another tutor, and had employed Haig Elgar as general manager. He has an engineering and army background, and has also been the CEO of Wanganui rugby.
The first intake of students now had enough experience to spend a lot of time in real workplaces. They were each working on individual projects and shaping up well, Mr Fothergill said.
"We started with a cross section of raw students.
"We have got some real stars."
