Partnership provides much needed skills for the rebuild   11 Dec 2013

CPIT

For immediate release 11/12/2013

Partnership provides much needed skills for the rebuild

As the demand for rebuild workers increases, one of the city’s leading labour supplying companies has teamed up with CPIT to help meet the shortfall.

Allied Work Force Limited (AWF) has signed on to become an industry partner with CPIT’s Pasifika Trades Training Initiative.

The agreement will see Trades Training Initiative graduates training and working with AWF.

AWF is the National preferred supplier for a number of large businesses including, Downers, Fulton Hogan and the Fletchers Group. In Christchurch, the company also works closely with other leading businesses involved in the rebuild.

AWF have 35 branches spread from Kaitaia to Invercargill and, as New Zealand’s largest provider of temporary staff, will be in a strong position to offer students opportunities.

Christchurch Branch manager Kurt Reed says AWF will be able to offer the CPIT students a “range of permanent and temporary positions to support employment and skill development”.

“There will be the opportunity to work with experienced tradesmen on a variety of tasks providing, practical on the job tuition.”

Reed considers the agreement to be an “ideal partnership between a highly respected provider of training” and an opportunity for students to learn from the existing knowledge, experience and expertise of those in the workforce.

Harry Westrupp, manager of the CPIT Centre for Maori and Pasifika Achievement (CMPA) says he was very pleased with the partnership.

“AWF Trades has a lot of connections in the industry and will be able to provide our students with training, work experience and even jobs,” he says.

“It’s an excellent way of working together.”

Pasifika Trades Training is run in collaboration with leaders from the Pasifika community, government agencies with Pasifika church ministers playing a key role in nominating and offering pastoral support.

This year, 100 Pasifika Trades Training scholarships were offered by CPIT in carpentry, electrical, engineering, plumbing, furniture & joinery, fitting, turning & toolmaking, paint and decorating and plasterboarding.

AWF will officially sign the agreement with CPIT at the Pasifika Trades Training Awards evening tomorrow night.

“A strong relationship has already been established and we look forward to that continuing to deliver outcomes to best benefit the students,” Reed says.

The Pasifika Trades Training Awards evening will be held from 5.45pm until 8.30pm at Te Puna Wanaka on Thursday December 12.

ENDS

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