Fletcher Building is seconding a Work and Income staff manager to help it recruit more beneficiaries for jobs in the Canterbury rebuild.

Fletcher Building has employed 26 previously unemployed Canterbury people in the past nine months in administrative jobs.

Most of them started as ''office juniors'' and several have been promoted, a Fletcher spokesman said.

Other Fletcher Building businesses are working with WINZ to provide similar opportunities. Recently a beneficiary had been employed at Fletcher Aluminium's new plant in Christchurch.

It is understood other large construction companies such as Hawkins Construction are working with WINZ also to recruit for the rebuild.

Fletcher Building group general manager of human resources Kate Daly said the majority of the 26 recruits had been promoted internally.

"That shows there are talented people out there who can and will contribute greatly to the workforce, if they're presented with an opportunity.

"By partnering with Work and Income our businesses can provide those opportunities for keen job-seekers, while also increasing their own recruitment options," she said.

The Work and Income programme manager, who will be based at Fletcher Building's head office, will oversee the company's employment and development partnership with the Government.

"Having a Work and Income manager in-house will allow us to better identify people who are eager to work but may need extra assistance in finding the right path,'' Daly said.

Fletchers is also offering 19 cadetships to young Maori who want a career in construction and that is being done in conjunction with Te Puni Kokiri.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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