Trade & Commerce Guest

How A Little Teamwork Can Make A Huge Difference

It’s amazing what can happen when the key players in a team all play to their strengths. Here’s a fantastic story of how great things happened when Work & Income, a local business, and Trade and Commerce teamed up to help a full-time mum get back into the workforce.

Sue Bould had been receiving Domestic Purposes Benefit for 12 years. She’d been a stay-at-home mum and it had been a while since she last worked fulltime. She was a bit unsure of her skills and wasn’t quite sure how easily she’d be able to fit back into working life.

After hearing about how one of her friends had got a job through Trade & Commerce’s programmes, Sue asked her Work & Income Case Manager if she could enrol with Making Waves. Her Case Manager made the referral a simple process and Sue was quickly into her studies.

The Making Waves tutors spent some time working with Sue to improve her computer skills, and to give Sue her confidence back. Sue made outstanding progress on the programme and developed a typing speed of 70 words per minute.

Once Sue had graduated from Making Waves, she decided to continue her studies at her local polytechnic. Sue went from strength to strength, adding a Business Administration & Computing Level 3 qualification to her list of National Certificates.

When the time came for Sue to take the step into employment, everyone pulled together. Sue found a job she wanted with her local VTNZ testing station. Through some guidance from her tutor and some great support from her Case Manager, Sue was successful at her first interview.

Sue has now been in full time employment for over 6 months and is really enjoying the feeling of being out and working.

Karl, her manager was so impressed with Sue that he has recently signed an agreement with Trade & Commerce to offer other Making Waves’ learners work experience. Karl said, “Sue; she’s great. And we’re pleased to be able to give something back to our community through the work-experience agreement.”

Work & Income Help DPB Beneficiary Get A Great Job

Darcelle Heemi was a full time mother and had been in receipt of a Domestic Purpose Benefit for two years. She was terribly low on confidence, and had wasn’t really sure where or how to get back into work.

Work & Income saw her potential and referred her to Trade & Commerce’s Workplace Learning Programme. Her Case Manager, Dixie knew, not only would Darcelle get the chance to receive some great hands-on training, she would be full of confidence and working in no time.

Trade & Commerce’s Programme Manager, Patrick used his range of industry contacts to find Darcelle a job she’d enjoy with an employer that would be right for Darcelle.

It quickly became apparent that Darcelle had found a job she loved with Smith & Smith Glass. Work & Income jumped at the opportunity to get a positive outcome and made Darcelle’s transition back to employment easier by providing funding for some small repairs to her car and for some work clothes.

Fast-forward 8 months. Darcelle is still employed and happy. Her manager, Ray Tuffin is also more than pleased with the outcome. “Darcelle is a real find. Trade & Commerce and Work & Income made the whole process so easy”.

What’s Better Than A Great Success Story About Your Clients?

Simple: 2 great success stories. The successful partnership of Work and Income, Workbridge and Trade & Commerce is best highlighted when we talk about how we’ve teamed up to make a real difference to the lives of our mutual clients.

Logan and Grant are two such successes. Both had a great interest in the automotive industry, but because of a lengthy duration on Unemployment Benefit and some personal issues, neither had the belief that they could actually take the next step.

Work & Income were fantastic in both instances, quickly referring to Trade & Commerce’s Intro to Auto programme. Here’s what happened next...

Both Logan and Grant had very different strengths, and our tutor quickly worked out a tailored learning plan for both of them.

Logan’s plan revolved around a work-experience placement with a local Mobile Auto Repair shop. After a couple of months the employer offered Logan a full apprenticeship. To continue Logan’s learning, an industry training agreement was put in place after consultation with MITO and Work & Income. Logan is now into his second year and making outstanding progress.

Grant’s story is slightly different but with an equally remarkable outcome. Grant was a qualified motor mechanic but after a long time out of work, Grant’s self confidence had gone. Grant’s plan was all about getting that confidence and motivation back.

Considering Grant’s skills and background, it made sense for him to become self-employed. With help, support and guidance from both Work & Income and his tutor, Grant conducted a feasibility study and things started to come together from then on. Due to a disability Workbridge were able to provide funding to install a garage hoist, making Grant’s work easier.

Grant’s business is now growing nicely and has recently had to move into larger premises to handle the workload.

I’m sure you’ll agree, both of these success stories are testament to the great things that can happen when Work and Income team up with Trade & Commerce.

Helping To Start A Career In Diversional Therapy

Rachel Pene left school at 16 with an idea of what she wanted to be. She had her heart set on becoming a ‘Diversional Therapist’. A Diversional Therapist works with the elderly and has an important role in the ongoing assessment of a person’s needs, strengths, and ability to perform a range of tasks. Through hobbies and past-times they support the interaction with others.

After having to relocate to a different area of NZ, Rachel wasn’t really sure about how to get into this sort of work. Her Work & Income Case Manager advised her that her best step was to get some work-experience in this field to see if it was really what she wanted to do before she enrolled in further education (and the associated student loan): probably the best advice possible.

A Breath Of Fresh Air

Trade & Commerce’s WorkPlace Learning programme, through its excellent links with employers, was quickly able to find Rachel some work-experience at a local Atawhai Retirement Village.

Through some great hands-on training and support from Work & Income, Rachel settled in nicely. The Retirement Village’s manager was really, really pleased. “Rachel comes with a bubbly attitude and lots of energy, working well with her peers. The residents see her as a breath of fresh air”

Rachel has now returned to her hometown to study for her National Certificate in Diversional Therapy Level 4. And according to Careers Services, the prospects for Rachel succeeding in the work she loves are good.
 

Sickness Beneficiary gets a great result

Avon is a sickness beneficiary in her 50s and she was unsure of what her future had in store. After some advice from her Work & Income Case Manager, Avon enrolled on our Hospitality course. Suddenly, Avon had her focus back...

Through some close work and a carefully thought out learning plan, it only took a matter of weeks for Avon to be ready to get work.

In no time, Avon had been found a great work experience placement at the nearby Retirement Village - Greenwood. Sue, from the management team at Greenwood is full of praise for Avon and her work.  Her duties are completed well, and she’s ‘had some great feedback’ from the clients.

Now, I’m sure you’ll agree: from an uncertain future to a positive outcome in a real short time, what a great result.

A Supercharged Start To An Automotive Career

From an early age Sarah wanted to be involved in motors and had a dream: to one-day drive for Holden - racing V8’s.

After some trouble during her time at school and a few difficulties finding the money to study in her hometown, Sarah was beginning to think her dream just ‘wasn’t possible’.

Not until her Work & Income Case Manager and her Career Guidance Councillor told her about Trade & Commerce’s Intro To Automotive programme. With interviews done and Work & Income paperwork quickly sorted, Sarah was back on track.

Now Firmly In Pole Position

Fast-forward a couple of months and Sarah is 40 credits closer to being a fully qualified mechanic: having now completed 18 unit standards with Trade & Commerce and earning her National Certificate in Employment Skills.

Through the programme’s excellent links to the local automotive community, Sarah is now getting valuable work-experience in a busy automotive workshop.

What does the future have in store? Sarah is planning to return to her hometown to start working fulltime, using her new skills in the industry she loves. So can we expect to see her driving V8 Super-cars any time soon? With her new found ambition and determination... probably.

Man on a Mission

Willie Tapine has a plan and an attitude to match after completing Trade & Commerce’s TOP’s programme, Intro to Automotive. Willie’s training allowed him to move forward with a job at Beaurepairs, from which he was headhunted for a position with Noel Leemings.

 

Keen to regain a valuable staff member, David Johnson, Manager at Beaurepairs, Napier, has asked Willie to return twice!
 

“Willie is an exceptional worker,” recalled David. “His Trade & Commerce training provided him with a strong backbone to advance. He’s an achiever.”

Carl Ngawhika has the patience of a saint. And he needs it dealing with up to 400 people everyday in his role as receptionist at Hamilton’s Water World. In 2005, Carl completed the Steps Ahead course at the Hamilton campus. This course covers customer service, reception, administration skills and is enhanced by work experience.

“I love this job. Every day is a surprise. I can easily apply all the skills I learnt on my Trade and Commerce course,” enthused Carl. “My tutor, Deepa was fantastic. She gave me encouragement to apply for a scholarship, win it and then go for this job.”

Eight months on and his manager Melanie Tooke is amazed at his commitment, particularly as he has a 45 minute drive to work. Carl has gained the National Certificate in Pool Life Guarding along with a First Aid certificate. “I have been impressed with Carl’s skills and how well the Trade and Commerce course has equipped him for this role. I predict that Carl will move ahead into administration. He has the right attitude.”

Proving that if you set goals, anything is possible: Jeremy Rose, Robert Watson, and Simon Gaffney have used Trade & Commerce?s Intro to Auto course to open up their options in the automotive industry.

Jeremy spent time studying to improve his knowledge, his goal being further study. Jeremy has since sat and passed the entry exam to study for the Certificate in Automotive Trades at Aoraki Polytechnic. Jeremy is also ?really enjoying? work-experience at Honda Cars in Timaru.

Robert wanted to get some hands-on experience working with cars and engines. Trade & Commerce?s Intro to Auto course enabled him to gain this valuable experience and some good practical skills. After a short while, Robert was accepted into a full automotive apprenticeship and has also gone on to study at Aoraki Polytechnic.

Developing his practical skills and hands-on knowledge was also Simon?s reason for studying with Trade & Commerce. Simon came to explore his interest in the automotive industry. After deciding that this was a great career choice, he is studying for the Certificate in Automotive Trades, having received some financial support from Work & Income. Like Jeremy, Simon is also getting work-experience at Honda Cars in Timaru. Both are, ?Showing good attitude and a keen interest in the practical side of the trade. [They] get on well with the other members of the team? says John Goldingham, Service Manager ? Honda Cars.

Each of the three students came to the course with different goals. With a bit of effort and some expert guidance, all three are now firmly on the road to success.