Ngā kōrero ahunga whakamua mō ā mātou kaupapa hei arotahi me ngā rāngai | Progress updates on our focus areas
Over the past year we have made good progress on the actions for each of our focus areas and sectors.
Tasting mussels in Nydia Bay
Focus area progress updates
Focus area 1: Malborough as an attractive place to live and work
Key milestones and activities
- Marlborough successfully launched a new skills attraction campaign, #WELOVEITHERE.
- Local businesses joined forces with the Marlborough District Council, Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Social Development, and Hortus to show visitors and remind locals about the amazing opportunities to build a career in Marlborough.
- Job opportunities showcased included engineers, information technology professionals, accountants, project managers, environmental scientists, data analysts, logistics managers, teachers, and a variety of roles in the wood processing, aquaculture, and wine industries.
- Through the first Regional Business Insights Survey we gained valuable insights into current sentiment within Marlborough’s business community and their confidence for the coming year. The survey was conducted by the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Marlborough District Council. We are looking forward to data from a second survey looking further into labour and employment aspects.
- We are working with HR Professionals, Destination Marlborough, and Marlborough District Council to encourage collaboration between employers to better manage their shared workforce and skill needs. We are also collaborating to better understand why recent arrivals to the region decided on Marlborough, and the reasons behind decisions to leave the region.
Next steps
- Complete analysis of research into why people are attracted to Marlborough and why people are leaving the region and share these insights with our stakeholders.
- Progress action 1.2 and collect data from industry on how many people are required and the necessary skills and attributes.
Focus areas 2 and 3: Career and learning pathways and Perceptions of industries and careers
Key milestones and activities
- We have identified examples of best practice for sharing career and learning pathways.
- We have identified best practice examples of industries that have taken actions to improve perceptions of their industry and career opportunities.
Next steps
- Communicate insights on career guidance and pathways to our stakeholders.
- Progress action 2.2 and work across industries to establish a pilot or working group that will trial actions to identify and communicate the career and learning pathways available in Marlborough.
- Progress action 3.2 and work across industries to establish a pilot or working group that will trial actions to improve perceptions of their industry and career opportunities.
Focus area 4: Connections between schools and industry/education
Key milestones and activities
- We have identified best practice examples of connections between schools and industries that inform young people about career opportunities and facilitate the pathway from school to employment.
- We regularly communicate analysis and insights from available data on workforce and skills issues to help our schools, industry, and government understand regional priorities through Local Insights Reports and stakeholder engagement.
- We are part of the Smart + Connected Labour and Skills group and are currently supporting employer understanding and culture around employing youth. The group is investigating common obstacles for young people and seeking input from local schools and youth workers.
- We supported the establishment of a new construction academy at Queen Charlotte College – a partnership with Kāinga Ora. The academy enables local students to gain new skills and kick start careers in the construction industry.
Next steps
- Progress action 4.4 and broker introductions between schools and industry to promote opportunities for collaboration.
- Progress action 4.5 and lead work with post-secondary education and training providers in Marlborough to identify solutions to ensure our young people are informed about what they offer.
Focus area 5: Everyone in the region is aware of career and training opportunities
Key milestones and activities
- We have identified best practice examples of industries that have taken actions to communicate career and training opportunities. Aviation/Aerospace and the Classic Fighters exhibit is one example of an industry in Marlborough taking a new approach to communicating career and training opportunities.
- We continuously advocate for local data collection, presentation and insights that are relevant to Marlborough. For example, we engaged with the Census 2023 team to share knowledge about regional challenges such as Marlborough Sounds access issues, seasonal workers, and cruise ships.
- Our data sub-group has developed a plan and is working on implementation. This also covers the data-related actions in focus area 6.
Next steps
- Develop a data access engagement plan.
- Progress action 5.3 and work across industries to establish a pilot or working group that will trial actions to communicate career and training opportunities.
Focus area 6: Enabling equitable outcomes for Māori through education and work
Key milestones and activities
- We are collaborating with the Nelson Tasman RSLG on aquaculture, connected to the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy’s Oceans Economy Strategy.
- We advocate for Māori/iwi data for Te Tauihu. This is ongoing.
- We advocate for Mā Māori, Mō Māori, ki a Māori solutions to workforce and skills issues. This is ongoing.
- Our data sub-group has developed a plan and is working on implementation. This also covers the data-related actions in focus area 5.
Next steps
- Progress action 6.4 and work in partnership with iwi/Māori to support their aspirations and objectives for solutions to workforce and skills challenges. This will also be ongoing.
Focus sector progress updates
Aerospace
- Our Aerospace working group are progressing workstreams.
- We worked with the Marlborough District Council and industry stakeholders (including airports, aviation engineering, training providers, and airlines) to establish the Smart + Connected Aerospace industry group. The group is also building links with Ringa Hora WDC and Aviation New Zealand. Marlborough aspires to be the Aerospace Training Hub in the Te Pūkenga network.
- Through the Smart + Connected Aerospace industry group we are engaging with the New Zealand Defence Force and iwi on expanding activities at Marlborough Airport.
- We are working with the Marlborough District Council and the Ministry of Social Development to develop a virtual reality experience for aviation and the opportunities in this sector.
Aquaculture
- The Food and Fibre CoVE Group Training Scheme Pilot in Marlborough will involve Aquaculture.
- Aquaculture New Zealand received funding for their Workforce Action Plan. We are collaborating with Aquaculture New Zealand and the Nelson Tasman RSLG to take a Te Tauihu | Top of the South approach to the aquaculture sector. The funding will assist the aquaculture industry to get the first stage of the action plan for developing a skilled, qualified, and diverse workforce underway.
- We have worked with the Smart + Connected Aquaculture group on initiatives, including a workshop focussing on efficiency and resilience, lifting production, driving value, innovation, and community and social responsibility. This included jobs, careers, and training information.
Building and Construction
- We supported the establishment of a new construction academy at Queen Charlotte College – a partnership with Kāinga Ora. The academy enables local students to gain new skills and kick start careers in the construction industry.
- We are working with the Electrical Training Company to bring training to Marlborough. This is not currently offered in our region.
Health
- We advocated for the establishment of a Bachelor of Nursing programme in Marlborough. This has now been established, with blended delivery available to Marlborough-based students meaning they can complete more of the programme here.
- We connected our local aged residential care providers with Toitū te Waiora WDC.
- We are looking to collaborate with aged residential care providers to progress work on ‘Marlborough as an attractive place to live and work’, particularly with respect to employment opportunities for spouses/partners of new recruits.
Wine
- The Food and Fibre CoVE Group Training Scheme Pilot in Marlborough will involve Wine.
- We are supporting the wine industry in their regional workforce planning. The industry-led steering group has a framework to plan the long-term needs of the Marlborough wine sector workforce.
Last updated: 20 June 2023
