Waste Management is the winner of the Skills Highway Award presented last week in Auckland at the Diversity Works diversity awards.
The Industry Training Federation (ITF) sponsors the Skills Highway Award as part of these awards.
The diversity awards help promote the importance of workplace literacy and numeracy and its vital role in creating a more inclusive society.
“Waste Management has gone the extra mile in creating a safer, smarter workplace and better working lives,” says ITF Skills Highway programme manager Nicky Murray.
“This award recognises that commitment to developing the literacy, numeracy and communication skills of employees, and, as a result, improving overall business performance,” says Murray.
In New Zealand, Waste Management is a nationwide organisation with 1300 staff across 40 sites.
It prioritised the Skills First programme, which puts its team first, and creates a healthier environment both at work and in the community.
Finalists for the Skills Highway award included KiwiRail, Countdown, and Coca-Cola Amatil, which support upskilling literacy and numeracy among staff.
”One million adult New Zealanders have low literacy and numeracy skills, which undoubtedly puts them on the back foot,” says Murray.
“At work, low literacy and numeracy is both a barrier and a risk. To participate fully, we need good literacy and numeracy skills, and that’s the role of the ITF,” she says.
“In partnership with the Tertiary Education Commission, we support employers to provide workplace training, and the benefits are significant,” says Murray.
Among the 100 Waste Management employees who completed Skills First last year, there has been a noticeable increase in confidence, engagement and pride.
We know that Waste Management employees now speak up and ask questions at meetings,” says Murray.
“They have a greater understanding and willingness to engage, and this engagement is fantastic for business as well as the employees,” she says.
