It’s been a busy few months with attendance at the North Canterbury Youth Futures expo held on 24th May at Rangiora High School. It’s great to be able to meet the youth of today and discuss a career in sign-making. During the expo, we handed out 40 flyers to students, parents, and caregivers. A massive thanks to Scott Walklin from Sign Network who joined me at the expo.
Signee attended the Vocational Pathways Expo at Rolleston College in June with 800 attendees in Year 11, 12, and 13 and have been invited back in September to assist Year 12 students with mock interviews. Rolleston College wants learners to gain experience, skills, confidence, and feedback in a simulated environment, without the pressure of applying for a real job, and within the comfort zone of the school. Later this month, we are at Cashmere High School for their Passion, Purpose, and Pathways Career Expo. If you would be interested in assisting at future career expos, speaking about your role in sign-making, and shining a light on the industry, please reach out. We would appreciate any support.
We want to acknowledge those sign businesses that hosted MSD Skills for Industry trainees this year. Dynamite Signs, Signz NZ, IU Signage, Sign Pursuit, Fulton Hogan Signs, and Signbiz. We appreciate the time and patience you provided to the trainees. Signee has reviewed this program and we have made a decision to no longer provide the Ministry of Social Development Skills for Industry course for job seekers with our future focus on school leavers and our pre-vocational program.
Industry Manager Yanah Partsch from Hanga Aro Rau Workforce Development Council is seeking more industry contacts who would like to be involved in scoping the need for micro-credentials, especially those Māori or Pacifica-owned businesses. Micro-credentials are a small, stand-alone formal award that recognises the achievement of specific skills, experience, or knowledge. Thanks to Jayne from Cosign, Jeremy from Big Brown, and Leeanne Freeman from SignFX who provided feedback thus far. Yanah is visiting businesses in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin to speak with industry stakeholders who express an interest in supporting the need for micro-credentials and/or being part of the process of forming what these look like. Official communication will be out shortly from Hanga Aro Rau.
Signee is increasing its reach with trainees currently in Christchurch, New Plymouth, Hokitika, and Auckland. We are pleased to announce our first Māori and Pasifika fully funded scholarship thanks to PSP and Computaleta. We will be advertising soon with applications closing on 31st August. Finally, it was great to meet the faces of people I had talked with on the phone or emailed at the NZ Sign + Print Expo in Auckland earlier this month. What an amazing awards evening and congratulations to everyone who entered. A round of applause for Melissa who was the driving force behind the coordination of the expo and conference.
