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Source: ONE News -
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A major New Zealand company and a not for profit organisation found the Job Summit worthwhile.
Transportation company Mainfreight and charity Dress For Success are from opposite ends of the business spectrum, but both found that the summit was more than just a talk-fest.
"There's no bias between union. There's no bias between iwi or business, everybody seems to be working very, very well to make sure that we get the right ideas into action," says Don Braid of Mainfreight.
Sue Lewis-O'Hallorran of Dress For Success agrees. "Those who have thought they could bring their own agenda didn't get away with it for very long."
The scene was set by the heavyweights, starting with an address by Prime Minister John Key. Then it was up to smaller working groups to come up with targeted solutions.
Dress For Success helps struggling women prepare for job interviews. For them having a higher profile could save tax dollars.
"We're not necessarily in need of adding more services, we're just in need of knowing what services are available to the people of New Zealand," says Lewis-O'Hallorran.
Mainfreight knows the barriers facing big business, and some of these were addressed by the summit.
"Getting rid of some of the excess rules that are around that inhibit us, that slow us down, are being talked about in terms of getting rid of or allowing us to act faster," says Braid.
Treasury officials warned it will be the young, the unskilled and Maori and Pacific Islanders that will be disproportionately affected in this downturn. Delegates were told it's the decisions of charities and businesses that will protect the vulnerable, preparing New Zealand for the future.
It's those seen as vulnerable that make up many of the clients at Dress For Success.
"We will partner more closely with those agencies that can encourage involvement and access to our services," says Lewis-O'Hallorran.
Mainfreight employs many Maori and Pacific workers and it's investing in education despite the downturn.
"We need an educated, skilled workforce to make sure that we deliver on an improving economy," says Braid.
