While some members will be feeling the pinch from challenges in the agriculture sector, Westpac economists say there's a silver lining in the form of a weaker dollar providing an important boost to exporter incomes.
It’s good to hear it's not all bad news for the agriculture sector and, in fact, the grass is literally greener than expected with most farmers dodging predicted drought conditions so far this summer.
While many developing economies are expected to struggle in 2016, growth in key developed countries is forecast to improve. Activity has continued to soften in China and emerging markets, and the related falls in commodity prices have resulted in sharp income falls for commodity exporting nations. In contrast, conditions in the US and other higher income economies have firmed. On balance, the result is a very mixed global backdrop from a New Zealand point of view. Westpac forecasts that this divergent outlook will provide opportunities for some, and challenges for others.
We know of many WECA members diversifying to meet such challenges head on. Let's think outside the square and grab new business opportunities with both hands.
We're very pleased to welcome new WECA co-ordinator Levinia Paku, who many members will know from her former student placement role at the University of Waikato. We hope to catch up with many of you at our first event of the year on 10th March. Read on for your invitation and information about our new sponsor, affiliate member and the lovely Levinia.
Engineering cadetship collaboration with Wintec and Smart Waikato Trust
Working with Wintec to contextualise school curriculum & cadetship promotion
Developing video offering for members
Waikato engineering pathways on website (member input) & Work in Waikato
Possible workforce mapping
Continuing to encourage higher calibre students into Waikato engineering sector
Continuing to represent WECA and careers expos and promote sector to schools
Continuing membership drive with introductory memberships
Continuing sponsorship drive
Continuing input into high level economic development work, including workforce planning
Continuing event management, public relations, website, enquiry management and newsletter production
Potential Evolocity co-ordination
WECA EVENT INVITE: The Local Taphouse
It would be great to see you, and even better if you can bring along a friend from our industry. This will be a time to catch up and check out one of Hamilton’s newest venues.
WECA supporter and recruitment specialist Graham Rodgers (Success Personnel) will share a few pearls of wisdom about how to spot drug use in the workplace, and how to deal with it. WECA supporter Kyle Pennell (Life Care Consultants) will also speak briefly about health monitoring in the workplace.
WHEN: Thursday March 10, 4.30pm to 6.30pm. WHERE: The Local Taphouse, Victoria Street, SKYCITY, Hamilton Central. COST: $24 per person. INCLUDES: Nibbles, beer and cider tasters (non-alcoholic options available).
Levinia has spent more than 13 years working in recruitment, specialising in engineering and science, including more than a decade as a placement co-ordinator for University of Waikato students.
Her excellent networking, public relations and event management skills sets her in good stead for her new role as a WECA co-ordinator alongside Sally Birch and manager Mary Jensen.
“I have been involved in WECA for several years as a member and I believe it offers excellent value to members. It is great to now be involved in WECA as a co-ordinator and I look forward to catching up with all the members,” Levinia said.
In previous roles Levinia, who has a scientific background, worked as a PR and events co-ordinator and conducted research for the Cooperative Education Unit of the University of Waikato. Her research papers have been presented both in New Zealand and throughout the world.
WECA employers, please join us in FutureForce®
WECA is again partnering with Smart Waikato Trust to produce a Waikato Engineering Careers section in the 2016/17 issue of FutureForce® Waikato magazine and parallel video .
Profile your organisation and young employees alongside WECA in this widely used multimedia taking the right messages about our sector to the workforce of the future.
Special WECA rates remain the same as last year to encourage as many members to take part as possible.
As well as supporting WECA, your profile will reach more than 10,000 of our region's secondary school students, their families and a range of high level stakeholders.
WECA receives 500 free copies of the magazine, complete with a front cover sticker pointing to the engineering section. This is used at WECA events, including the Waikato Careers Expo in June. You can use your space to showcase your organisation and to profile the young engineering stars who are the workforce of the future.
WECA FutureForce® Rates:
Full page, normal rate: $1990+gst Full page, WECA rate: $1290+gst (save $700)
FutureForce® Video: $1200+gst (available to magazine contributors only)
* Smart Waikato's team will produce your material at no extra cost, 2-3 minute, interview style videos are available for your use at no extra charge.
INVITATION:
EVolocity & WECA - sparking interest in engineering for Waikato youth
You’re invited to celebrate the launch of EVolocity in the Waikato. It’s a charity partnering with WECA and dedicated to educating kiwis on the environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles and growing youth interest in engineering and technology.
This event is a chance for you to hear more about EVolocity’s 2016 programme of activities and educational opportunities as well as the advancement of the electric vehicle movement in New Zealand.
The EVolocity schools programme in the Waikato will assist teams of secondary schools students to design and build sustainable electric vehicles. In most cases this will form part of their NCEA technology, physics, science or education for sustainability studies.
When: 5:30 - 7pm, Wednesday 9 March, 2016
5:30pm Mix and mingle/view bike challenge
6pm Welcome and speeches
6:45pm Q&As
Electric bikes and vehicles will be on display and teams of students will compete to build an electric bike.
Where: Engineering and Trades facility foyer, Wintec Rotokauri Campus (G Block), 51 Akoranga Road, north Hamilton (click here to view campus map).
RSVP: Please click here to RSVP by Friday 4 March. Otherwise, you can contact Nicole Hughes via Nicole.hughes@wintec.ac.nz or 07 834 8800 ext 3882.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Sponsors
Partners
Welcome new sponsor: Life Care Consultants
Life Care is delighted to join WECA and support the engineering industry in the Waiktato.
We are a New Zealand wide company with 60 staff based from Whangarei to Dunedin with the head office proudly situated in Hamilton.
Janet Brothers established Life Care in 1994 after seeing a gap in the market for customised first aid training. As the company has grown so too have our products. Soon after the company inception, and due to Janet’s nursing back ground, clients started asking Janet if she could provide hearing and lung function assessments.
In the mid to late 1990s clients were focused on compliance with the relatively new Health and Safety in Employment Act and commonly Janet would hear “If we have to do it lets get it done”. After a few years of having health assessments written into the budgets the clients started saying ”What else can we be doing for our staff?”
First Aid has remained Life Care’s core business however innovations and acquisitions have broadened the services to our clients.
More recently there has been a desire of the clients to reduce the number of contractors they are using, this can simplify life, reduce admin time and give ‘buying power’. Listening to this aspiration Life Care purchased Fire and Rescue in 2015, which has enabled us to provide Fire Safety and Fire Warden training, this has been especially attractive to the clients and enabled them to complete a Refresher First Aid course in the morning and Fire Safety course in the afternoon.
Life Care is excited to support the engineering industry in the Waikato and we believe our forward thinking and client focussed approach will compliment this innovative industry sector.
Welcome new affiliate: Automation Equipment
Automation Equipment is a supplier of quality engineering components ranging consisting of pneumatics, vacuum, polymer bearings, energy chain and cable, conveyor drum motors and many more all from world class brands. With the technical support and experience from these progressive companies Automation Equipment is ready to support your business.
Won an award? Moving premises? Want to pick other members' brains? Don't forget to tell us about it! You just might see yourself in the next WECA Update. Email sally@weca.org.nz or click the big purple button.
