The Waitaki District Council’s Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs programme received up to $500,000 worth of Government funding to help youth get started in the workforce. The programme started in March, helping four people find employment and another 22 were being supported on the pathway. The funding would help a further 50 find jobs in the next year.
Oamaru’s Darryl Keegan was one of those who benefited from the programme, and since found employment.
The 21-year-old, who had a hospitality background, had been searching for a job when Youth Launch put him in touch with TK Hire.
After spending the past five weeks with the business, he was relishing the opportunity to learn about the machinery in the "big toy shop".
TK Hire owner Craig Weatherly was equally rapt with the outcome having Mr Keegan join the team. What he thought could be a "long shot" hiring someone without experience ended up being very beneficial.
"He’s turned out 10 times better and picking stuff up a lot quicker than we anticipated," Mr Weatherly said.
The mayor’s taskforce provided TK Hire with a "subsidy" to help Mr Keegan which made the difference.
"Anyone can do these things and do a job if given the opportunity but in all honesty it’s a bit of a tough economic climate for us to want to give someone an opportunity that’s unskilled so this is what’s made it a little more viable and a little more worthwhile."
He "100%" encouraged businesses throughout the district to get involved with the programme.
Council community development manager Helen Algar said there was a great team behind the programme.
"The new funding will provide opportunities for us to support many more young people into work, which is the ultimate goal, but alongside that it helps to build the economy and the wellbeing of all involved," Mrs Algar said.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the programme was a prime example of how local government could work with the communities to solve challenges and "in this case creating life-changing opportunities for our young people".
