Developed in response to the national labour shortage, the initiative was started up last year to connect students and young adults with employers.
Great South’s Southland Youth Futures team manager Renata Gill said despite last year’s initiative being held online due to Covid precautions, they had a great response and more than 50 eventual placements.
"We thought that this could be a good opportunity for our youth to be able to connect with employers who were looking for staff, because employers were willing to take on young people with no experience and they were willing to train them in their first jobs. So that’s a huge advantage for a young person," she said.
"There’s some awesome roles available in our local community, from junior coaches, lifeguards, park rangers, road traffic management, working in a chocolate factory, census collectors, retail workers and even the opportunity to work in Invercargill’s newest hotel The Langlands - so hopefully there’s something of interest to everyone."
The Southland Youth Futures Programme works with employers throughout Southland and many employers were already an established part of its network, though several new employers had joined the Summer of Work initiative for the first time this year.
It also runs a "Workready Passport" programme in schools designed to help young people develop key employability skills and get them into the workforce.
Network Electrical Servicing Invercargill was at the Summer of Work for the first time, with recruiter Shyann Bruce saying the employers offered guaranteed hours, qualifications and a great team to work with.
Other employers present for the drive included the Invercargill Licensing Trust, the Invercargill City Council, The Warehouse, H&J Smiths, Mitre 10 Mega, South Seas Hotel and many others.
Virtual meetings were held online yesterday afternoon. More will be held today.
- By Ben Tomsett
