To attract tertiary graduates and encourage people to choose Manawatū as a place to begin and grow their career, CEDA is partnering with NxtStep, a leading graduate employment and careers platform in New Zealand.
NxtStep is used by thousands of tertiary students on a weekly basis nationwide, and the organisation works with hundreds of employers attracting and connecting talented individuals with internships, entry level roles and graduate opportunities.
“We know that access to the right talent and skills is one of the biggest barriers to business growth. Through this partnership we are aiming to provide local businesses with a solution to connect with the tertiary talent pool, this may be with people already living here or those who are open to move for the right opportunity,” says Central Economic Development Agency’s Chief Executive Linda Stewart.
Nationally, NxtStep advertises roles across 60 sectors, from agriculture to technology, manufacturing, planning and resourcing to marketing and communications and more. Manawatū-based companies already featuring on the platform include some of the region’s largest employers like Toyota, Fonterra, FMG, and Mainfreight.
As a result of the partnership a dedicated Manawatū recruitment platform has been developed – manawatu.nxtstep.co.nz. The platform features Manawatū specific employers and employment opportunities, a mixture of interesting and engaging lifestyle content and a series of interviews with young professionals who are based here in the region – giving an authentic insight into the lifestyle and career opportunities here.
“We are excited to try this new and targeted approach to engage with these graduates,” says Stewart. “One of our strategic objectives is to grow, develop and retain talent in the region so businesses have the skills to grow and this is just one way in which we’re meeting this commitment.”
The partnership between CEDA and NxtStep will be focused on encouraging more employers and the wider business community to become involved.
“We will be engaging with businesses and employers about the platform and the role it can play to showcase their available opportunities. It’s a competitive market and the shifting nature of how people work and what younger generations are looking for in an employer is forcing organisations to become more creative about selling their organisational culture, benefits and progression pathways.”
This partnership also builds on the successful campaign Move to Manawatū, launched by CEDA earlier this year, which aimed to raise awareness of the career and lifestyle benefits on offer here, to attract more people to move here.
The platform will provide CEDA with data and insights including how many people are searching for opportunities in the region, where people are searching from, what industries and roles they are interested in, and the ability to track referrals to the regional website ManawatuNZ.co.nz. This information will then help to inform planning and campaigns moving forward.
“To achieve our vision of Manawatū being New Zealand’s most progressive region by 2025, we need Manawatū to be a magnet for talent, businesses, investors and visitors. This partnership with NxtStep and engagement with businesses to grow their awareness of the platform, is one way we aim to make this happen.”
If you, your business or someone you know is interested in learning more about NxtStep, please get in touch with CEDA today.
Visit manawatu.nxtstep.co.nz.
For more information:
[email protected]
06 350 1830
