Call for adequate training

Adequate training is the quickest way to improve productivity in South Canterbury, says Aoraki Development Trust chief executive Murray Cleverley.

Together with the Aoraki Polytechnic the trust hopes to increase productivity by improving gaps in training and the labour market through a training needs analysis.

The trust's business development manager Hazel Ingrosso is conducting 100 face-to-face interviews and 75 telephone interviews with randomly selected businesses and farmers around the region.

The project will identify current and future skill shortages in the region in order to develop strategies for filling shortages.

Mr Cleverley said it gave employers the chance to talk about the difficulty they have recruiting and retaining skilled staff as well as identifying ways the trust can assist businesses and employers in Aoraki.

Identifying skill shortages in the area helped the training organisations cater to the community's needs.

An analysis conducted by the trust in 2001 highlighted employers' concerns about literacy and communication skills.

He expected that the analysis would again raise issues around literacy.

The trust will share the results by posting a summary of its research on its website next year.

- © Fairfax NZ News