COCA COLA CAREERS EXPO

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs is working closely with the Coca Cola Careers Expos to ensure there is as wide a range of career and industry training information as possible available to students. This year the Expo’s held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, have featured preview evenings for teachers – particularly subject teachers. The evenings have been well attended, around 300 in Auckland, and well received by teachers. The evenings have been introduced as a response to research which shows that all teachers have a big influence on students’ career choices. Being able to view the Expo in a relaxed atmosphere without the responsibility for students has given teachers the opportunity to speak more fully with exhibitors and bring their knowledge of available careers up to date.

Coca Cola Careers Expo, Auckland

Thousands of students across the country attend the expos and the organisers recognise that teachers are fundamental to students making sound career choices and along with the teachers’ evenings provide schools with a number of resources to ensure students make the most of their visit. We are continually working to improve the event and the Taskforce would particularly like to see an increased number of Industry Training Organisations and providers exhibit, to inform students of routes other than tertiary institutions, to the workplace. Those who do exhibit report value for money and note it as a good way to market to large numbers of students, parents and teachers.

Coca Cola Careers Expo, Christchurch

For further information on the Expo’s contact:
Jan Francis
Executive Officer
Mayors Taskforce for Jobs
E: j.francis@clear.net.nz

WHY MAYORS?

Mayors are:

  • Directly elected and they have a collective ability to speak to the whole community, take civic leadership and facilitate collaboration and genuine partnerships across all sectors
  • Passionate about their communities
  • Committed to providing opportunities for all their citizens to participate

WHY YOUTH?

  • Research shows those who make a successful transition from school to education, training and work have better life long outcomes.
  • NZ is suffering widespread skill and labour shortages so we need every young person to be fully engaged in our communities.
  • NZ needs to train its young to help fill our skills shortages.
  • The demand for entry and lower level skilled workers is also growing.
  • There is global competition for skilled labour.
  • Youth are an underutilised source of labour.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Taking Mayoral leadership to engage with government Ministers, officials, agencies, community groups and the private sector which have key roles in employment is the way the Taskforce works to achieve its vision. Partnerships with government agencies and Ministers provide the Taskforce with an opportunity to discuss policy issues and inform the policy making process, particularly to ensure that policy is relevant at the local level. Working across all sectors and encouraging collaboration between agencies ensures the most effective service delivery and efficient use of resources, currently through:

  • Increasing youth transition services, modern apprenticeships, industry trainees
  • Using Long Term Council Community Plans to engage locals
  • Working with central and local government officials to develop sound policies and projects
  • Using Mayors’ collective voice to lobby on behalf of youth employment
  • Recognising and using the power of the Mayor’s office