Gateway programme success ‘fantastic’
A Timaru teacher hopes to foster a relationship with local businesses that will see them picking more apprentices from his metalwork class.
Timaru Boys’ High School (TBHS) technology department head teacher Michael Howard has been in the role for a year.
He previously taught at a Feild- ing high school and said businesses there regularly asked him to nominate students for apprenticeships.
‘‘Shops would call and ask us for apprentices. Companies aren’t wasting money teaching them to weld, they’ve already learned that.’’
Howard was running a minimotorbike building class with his Year 12 students, and it was from this class that Timaru Can-Am gained its newest Bradley Williams, 17.
Williams said he had learnt a lot of skills through his metalwork class at school.
‘‘A lot of basic skills welding and stuff like that.’’
Can-Am co-director Ben Stewart said there was a shortage of tradespeople, particularly in the motorbike industry, and the business had two apprentices at the moment. apprentice, like
‘‘In the past we’ve been involved with the Gateway Programme. That’s been really good for picking apprentices up.’’
South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wendy Smith was pleased to hear of another Gateway programme success.
‘‘It’s exactly what the Gateway programme is designed to do, which is give students the opportunity to work in industry, to identify really where their niche might be, but also for industry to be able to identify future employees.’’
‘‘It looks like it’s a win-win all round, so that’s fantastic,’’ she said.
Aoraki Development chief executive Nigel Davenport said the organisation had a pilot scheme under way which would enhance relationships between businesses and secondary schools.