The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Jobs and Skills Hub (‘The Hub’) is abuzz with people from the local community who are making good use of the vast array of courses and opportunities that exist to support them into training and employment.
The Hub, run by MSD, is situated in Heretaunga Hastings and shares the space with Building Futures Te Matau a Māui Pathway to Employment (Building Futures). Between them they offer pre-employment and training opportunities to local job seekers. Both are committed to working proactively to ensure that as jobs become available on the large construction projects planned for the region, local people are trained, qualified and ready to apply. One of these projects is the Hawke’s Bay expressway that will connect Hastings and Napier, creating a critical link to the Napier airport and port.
Opportunities for local E Tū Whānau community partners
E Tū Whānau kaimahi Cherish Brogden is excited about the opportunities for the community partners she works alongside in the rohe.
“Some of our people don’t know what other services are available under the MSD umbrella. I see myself as a connector, someone who can link the whānau and communities I work alongside with the Jobs and Skills Hub and Building Futures.”
Cherish has strong praise for the way The Hub opens its doors to anyone looking for work. “People don’t need an appointment. They can just drop in and they will be seen. They are always made to feel welcome. It’s a safe place for our people.
“The Hub’s meeting rooms and shared spaces have given me the ability to show genuine manaaki to our community partners and create a welcoming environment for all the rōpū I work with.
“When I bring our partners into The Hub, I can explain how The Hub supports whānau into employment, I can introduce them to The Hub kaimahi, and give them a tour of the facilities. From there the team are always keen to support any whānau who may be looking for training or employment opportunities, especially in construction and infrastructure.”
In addition to that, the organisations Cherish works with are able to use rooms in The Hub space free of charge.
“Having a safe, accessible, and mana-enhancing place for our people has been especially valuable, particularly for partners who don’t have an office or a base, such as our Nannies Against P rōpū. These kuia are doing amazing work supporting local kaumātua and promoting intergenerational healing within their whānau and hapū. The Hub provides a space where I can prepare kai and offer genuine manaaki whenever they meet with me.”
Preparing local people for local work
Awhina Hungahunga (Ngāti Pahuwera, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungūnu) is the Operations Manager of the Hub, and has a strong commitment to employment for local people.
”We are preparing for a pipeline of work being broadcast across our region. We want to make sure our local people are considered for that work. In addition to that, there’s a skills shortage at the moment so we are being proactive by aiming to get ahead early on. Our aim is to create a pool of candidates ready for any work.”
Kirsten Newton is the Programme Manager for Building Futures, co-located in this space.
“The way we are able to collaborate with The Hub is amazing! They are right next door so it’s very easy to provide job seekers with the best opportunities for their situation.
“And we have an increasing number of motivated young people looking for work. It’s fantastic!”
“This place is mean!”
Kody Harlick is a 17-year-old who recently succeeded in getting his first job after completing a Building Futures programme. He faced common barriers to getting a job – being a young person who hadn’t had a job before, no prior work experience, and only having a learner’s licence.
Kody was connected up with the programme’s Youth Facilitator, Ihaka, early on.
“I walked in, shook Ihaka’s hand and thought, ‘this place is mean’!”
Kody describes Ihaka as very helpful and straightforward, explaining clearly how The Hub could support him while he was on the Building Futures course.
Kody has nothing but praise for the way he was encouraged and supported through the process.
“Building Futures picked me up every day and helped me get the quals I needed to apply for the forklift job. I’ve done working at heights, first responder, and passed an OSH Certificate for using a forklift. They helped with my CV and through their relationship with the employer, I had an interview. I also did a Virtual Reality Site Safety training at The Hub.”
Kody started as a forklift operator in mid-March and encourages other rangatahi to go to The Hub or Building Futures.
“You can do a course for 10 weeks and they will help you get qualifications and look for a job. When you’re there, they can tell you what’s available for a young person and more out of the box things compared to what you find on Seek.”