ITI Articles

Since 2003, Work and Income has been developing Industry Partnerships with a range of industries facing skill and labour shortages.  In July last year Work and Income's Straight 2 Work - Call Centre Training programme was launched.  New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA) was brought on board to deliver the four-week programme.

The partnership has been extremely successful in its first year: "Three contact centre courses of 15 students each have been delivered so far," says Work and Income Coordinator at NZMA, Jenny Percival.

"Students on the first two courses gained employment with a range of companies including Ticketmaster, Telecom, Vodafone, Child, Youth and Family and the Ministry of Justice.  The third course is currently in the placement phase."

According to Jenny, the key to the success of the programme lies not only in the training but also in the job placement and career support provided by the training provider for up to six months after graduating.

NZMA, which specialises in certificate and diploma level business and hospitality training as well as contact centre training, also delivers the Straight 2 Work - Hotels Housekeeping programme which was launched last December to combat staffing shortages within hotel housekeeping departments.  This programme is run by Work and Income in partnership with Heritage Hotels and Millennium Hotels and Resorts, and provides Work and Income clients with the skills and knowledge they need to successfully gain employment as hotel housekeepers. 
 
Three Straight 2 Work – Hotels Housekeeping courses with a maximum of 15 students each have been completed in Auckland so far, and a fourth is about to start.
 
NZMA facilitator for the course, Steven Jack, says the programme is proving to be very effective. 
 
“We are achieving high success rates in placement.  Ninety percent of people who complete the course have gained work in housekeeping departments of a range of hotels including the Heritage, Copthorne, Rydges and the Crowne Plaza,” says Steven.
 
The success is, in part, thanks to the practical nature of the course, which covers topics like bed-making, chemical use and safety.  It also includes work experience within hotel housekeeping departments.  This ensures students know what to expect before employment actually starts.