In this story Auckland Council talks about the success of the Youth Employment Traction Plan since it’s launch in April.
Recently Auckland Mayor Len Brown visited the now firmly established traction hub at Auckland Council and Auckland Tourism, Event and Economic Development (ATEED’s) downtown office.
The hub brings together council and external agencies to work with businesses on youth employment and coordinate initiatives across the region.
“More than 27,000 young Aucklanders are currently not in education, employment or training, and more than half of this group are Maori and Pacific,” says Len Brown.
“We simply can’t afford to have so many of our young people at risk of a lifetime of unemployment, particularly at a time when our region is experiencing strong economic growth.
“That’s why we needed urgent leadership from council, business and government to turn this around. This plan and hub initiative will enable us to back more of our young people to succeed, by helping them to find practical and supportive pathways to training, jobs or further education.”
The Mayor’s Youth Employment Traction Plan includes a pledge by council to boost numbers in its Career Pathways graduate and cadet programmes. Regular summits will focus on specific issues and bringing together young people, business leaders and organisations which work with youth employment to design joint solutions.
The plan taps into and builds on the work being done by Youth Connections Across Auckland – a regional initiative driven at a local level by local board and other champions. Youth Connections works with young Aucklanders to ensure they have a plan and direction for their future that connects to the workforce requirements of local businesses.
Accompanying the mayor on his visit to the traction hub were Fletcher Building’s GM Corporate Affairs Rick Osbourne and Programmes and Mobility Consultant – Recruitment, Jenny Martin.
Fletcher’s, New Zealand’s largest listed company, committed to working as a partner with council on youth employment initiatives after seeing media coverage about the traction plan.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to have Fletcher’s on board with the traction plan and Youth Connections,” says Len Brown.
“With Fletchers’ leadership I am confident other corporates and businesses will come on board to provide a new and collaborative approach to addressing youth employment in a practical, action focused way.”
At the launch Sir Stephen Tindall announced Tindall Foundation funding of $1.85m over three years to continue support for the Youth Connections movement. After the summit he and the mayor contacted a number of business leaders to generate support for the hub and youth employment.
Caption for the photo above: The Mayor and Youth Connections Strategic Adviser Jan Francis discuss youth employment opportunities with Fletcher Building’s Jenny Martin and Rick Osbourne.