Business News

Got a Trade? Got it Made! Week is back for 2016. The national campaign to raise awareness of on-the-job training and careers in New Zealand’s trades and services is returning 22-26 August. The week also celebrates the talents and achievements of Kiwis making headway in their vocation. The multi-channel campaign has been co-organised by Competenz and seven of the country’s industry training organisations representing more than 140 trades and services, including the manufacturing sector. Got a Trade will be promoted on TV, radio and via digital channels throughout August and into the beginning of September. Competenz’ CEO Fiona Kingsford says that there are misconceptions on what a trade can represent. And that on-the-job training encompasses industries as diverse as manufacturing, to butcher, to refrigeration and air conditioning. “Genuine career opportunities currently exist in 140 trades and services in New Zealand, yet the current housing crisis has led the public to mostly focus on the opportunities in the building and construction sectors,” said Kingsford.“The manufacturing sector is most in need and calling out for 40,000 new people for it to keep up with growth and demand in the next four years. That’s an astounding yet exciting number of people learning new skills and contributing to moving our economy forward.”In an increasingly technical world, the practical skills that can be gained in workplace training teach apprentices to help turn ideas, innovation and great thinking into reality. “In today’s job market practical intelligence and technical trades are in very high demand, and this translates in to excellent earning potential,” said Kingsford. Plastics graduate and 2016 Plastics Apprentice of the Year Ben Ellis (pictured) has been working in the industry since finishing school. “I decided to apply for an apprenticeship with a local plastics company as the use of plastics is widespread throughout the […]

This glimpse of the future was crafted by: Georgina Mahony. Our leadership approach to ‘being an employer’ hasn’t changed significantly in decades. Managing people in a work environment involves seeking to gain their best efforts, in exchange for reward – but is it time we redefined reward? As barriers to mobility between projects, companies, countries and industries disappear – a ‘job for a decade’ let alone a ‘job for life’ is now a thing of the past. Money may make the world go round, but as a new generation of employees come to the workforce, it is clear that it doesn’t always buy happiness. Enlightened organisations are realising that it certainly doesn’t buy job satisfaction either for their new experience-hungry workforce. If an organisation doesn’t show their employees they are valued – they’ll move on to the next one who does. With employees increasingly working in project delivery environments, how do project managers apply the change needed in organisational leadership to project leadership in order to engage and retain their teams? Within today’s rapidly changing business environment, creative thinking and collaboration in order to achieve differentiation have taken pride of place. “Companies are focusing on innovation and unique differentiation – and almost exclusively are looking at people, not machines, to provide it,” writes The Digitalist. In addition to employees becoming critical to an organisation’s success, their expectations have changed. Gen X and the Millennials (born between 1982 and 2004) are at very different points in their careers (with some yet to start theirs!). It is clear that the Millennials’ definition of prosperity encompasses far more than just money. Interestingly, many Gen Xers seem to have reached a similar conclusion – as their careers have progressed, they find themselves looking for greater meaning in their roles. This combined workforce craves shared […]

There is an obvious disconnect between our education system, both secondary and tertiary, and what industry needs to grow our economy and prosper.  Manufacturers and other sectors are increasingly struggling to find the skilled staff they need to grow, say the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA). NZMEA Chief Executive Dieter Adam says, “The availability of skilled people coming out of our education system is an issue that manufacturers have identified for some time, and there have been comments recently of other sectors feeling the same. “The shortages we often hear about are among the ‘skilled practitioner’ level and highly skilled trades workers (NZQF levels 5 and 6), be that a technically skilled team leader in a manufacturing operation or a hotel manager in the tourism sector.  Manufacturers are also facing shortages in the area of ‘highly skilled experts’, for example, graduate mechatronics engineers. “An aggravating factor is the fact that it is exactly these skilled people who are in short supply in many advanced economies – including Germany, for example, as I found in discussions with German manufacturers during a recent visit there. Young New Zealanders with a good technical education are well-regarded internationally and we are increasingly exposed to a global hunt for talent” says Dieter. “Immigration is a tool in the short term, provided that migrants come with the appropriate skills and levels of practical experience, however, this should not be the long term solution.  New Zealand has high rates of numeracy, literacy and problem solving skills when compared to other OECD countries – the key step is helping students gain the additional professional skills being in demand, and making them aware of where opportunities lie. “The Government has taken excellent initiatives in selected areas, such as the engineering e2e initiative, but beyond its current pursuit […]

EMEX 2016 was an exciting opportunity for manufacturers to see new technology and equipment that could improve productivity in their businesses, and to meet and network with other manufacturers and suppliers.  On display were some of the latest in CNC machines, 3D printers, as well as welders, tools and products manufactured in New Zealand. The New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) took the opportunity to exhibit at EMEX 2016, showcasing some examples of the impressive and high value goods being made right here in New Zealand. We wanted to remind everyone attending how prominent manufacturing is in New Zealand today, and that despite operating in an industry of change and challenges, Kiwi’s continue to thrive and find niches and competitive edges, both locally and on the world stage. It was great to see so many New Zealand manufacturers visit our stand and share their stories.  We were also encouraged to see and speak to students attending the show, showing an interest in seeking further education and careers in manufacturing. As well as all the stands at EMEX, each day featured seminars, with expert speakers from a range of industry backgrounds, such as academics and companies developing new technologies or sharing their experience. The NZMEA also presented in the seminar series, talking about why manufacturing matters to New Zealand, the value it brings to our economy, and why we should aim to grow our vibrant high value manufacturing industry further. Manufacturing provides much more to our economy than the impression you may get from media or politicians – making up 10% of our GDP, and supplying the jobs for 1 in 10 of people employed. It allows us to pay our way in the world and improve living standards through exports, it pays higher than average wages and supports demand […]

 The latest New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) Survey of Business Conditions completed during May 2016, shows total sales in April 2016 decreased 2.97% (year on year export sales decreased by 5.36% with domestic sales increasing by 2.72%) on April 2015. In the three months to April, export sales increased an average of 24.8%, and domestic sales increased 2.2%. The NZMEA survey sample this month covered NZ$311m in annualised sales, with an export content of 69%. Net confidence rose to 40, up from 33 in March. The current performance index (a combination of profitability and cash flow) is at 99, down from 103.33 last month, the change index (capacity utilisation, staff levels, orders and inventories) was at 101, down from 103 in the last survey, and the forecast index (investment, sales, profitability and staff) is at 102, down on the last result of 107. Anything over 100 indicates expansion. Constraints reported were 53% markets, 20% skilled staff, 20% production capacity, and 7% capital. A net 46.67% of respondents reported productivity increases for April. Staff numbers for April increased 2.68% year on year. Operators/labourers, tradespersons and, managers, professional/scientists reported a moderate shortage and supervisors reported a minor shortage. “April showed a decrease in year on year export sales, following a great start to 2016. Even with this fall, the three month average of export sales remains high at 24.8%. Domestic sales increased year on year by 2.7% in April, which is positive after the decrease seen in March. The three month average for domestic sales stayed positive at 2.2%.” says Dieter Adam, Chief Executive of the NZMEA. “Sentiment measures were mixed this month, with confidence improving, but the index measures of performance, forecast and change, all falling on March results. Skilled staff has also increased significantly as a reported constraint […]