Young, unemployed people in Northland will receive digital, work and life skills training thanks to a three-million-dollar investment.
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will invest $3.88m in a range of skills training, announced by regional economic development minister Shane Jones and employment minister Willie Jackson.
These programmes will support over 800 young leaders and will be funded through the He Poutama Rangatahi (HPR) programme.
One of the programmes being funded is Life Talk, a twelve-week programme that builds digital skills within the context of broader life and work skills development, including driver licensing. Kamo Driving school will receive a $396,000 grant, of the $3.88m.
“It combines digital skills training with local web developers, as well as work experience with local employers – both digital and non-digital based on the needs of participants,” Jones says.
The other two programmes are NGEN Room and He Poutama Taitamariki, a 12-month digital technology programme and an employment and training programme respectively.
“Both NGEN Room and Life Talk have a digital technology focus,” Jones says. “Northland has a number of young people with few or no qualifications, who are interested in the digital sector through gaming but lack basic coding skills or the motivation, confidence or networks required to pursue qualifications or employment in this area.”
“Both projects also provide on-going pastoral care to support participants during training and beyond.”
Jackson says the HPR support will get local people ready for local jobs, having worked with 116 employers since October last year to get more than 750 young people into further training or employment.
