Progress report: December 2022

Overview

As the Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Skills Leadership Group, we are driven to create prosperous outcomes for our people through identifying and supporting better ways of meeting future regional skills and workforce needs. Taking a targeted approach, the first iteration of the Regional Workforce Plan (RWP) - released June 2022 - focused on the Kaiāwhina Health Workforce and School Transitions. Since health is our largest regional workforce and school leavers are our future regional workforce, these two areas emerged as natural priorities.

Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Workforce Plan [LINK]

Our 2022 RWP produced nine actions, including four cross- cutting themes:

• Partnership and Collaboration
• Localisation of Provision
• Transitions Support
• Direction of National Systems

Progress

Partnership and Collaboration

The RSLG has continued to facilitate cross-rohe dialogue and information sharing. We have initiated attendance of district Skills and Talent Advisory Group and Workforce Development Council attendance at RSLG hui as well as connections between the different districts. Given the geographic, economic and social disparity across the region, bringing together key regional actors with common interests has been deliberate and will remain a continual focus.

Localisation of Provision

The RSLG have been analysing relevant data on training provisions around the rohe to populate a pilot regional training directory, set to be published later this year. A larger, more comprehensive directory covering all seven districts will be rolled out next year.

Transitions Support

The RSLG has continued to support the Entry to Healthcare programme being developed by UCOL Te Pūkenga. What the RSLG can do to continue to support our future workforce is top of mind. The support our rangatahi require is being uncovered through a journey analysis of school leavers report, with ongoing equitable provision of information and opportunities as a result.

Direction of National Systems

The RSLG is committed to ensuring that our regions voice is heard at the national level. As we move into our next focus area of Freight, Logistics and Warehousing, we are aligning with and building on existing regional strategic plans such as Te Pae Tawhiti - Manawatū- Whanganui Māori Economic Development Strategy and Accelerate25. Aligning with these strategies allows for a consistent voice for Manawatū-Whanganui.

Next Steps

The Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Skills Leadership Group (RSLG) has identified Freight, Logistics and Warehousing (FLW), and the seasonal elements of the horticulture sector as focus areas for the 2023 Regional Workforce Plan.

Over 50 targeted stakeholder engagements with key FLW actors across the regional labour market have been completed. These will inform the Actions and Recommendations in the 2023 Regional Workforce Plan.

Initial stakeholder engagements in the seasonal horticulture sector have begun.