Auckland’s top youth employers named

Several big-name employers were named last week at the Youth Employer Pledge Awards for their efforts in offering careers to young Kiwis.

BY Chloe Taylor 30 Nov 2015

Auckland-based employers were recognised last week for being top employers for young people.

The inaugural ‘Young at Heart’ Youth Employer Pledge Awards honoured businesses that have signed Youth Employer Pledges, making a commitment to employ Auckland’s young talent.

Rainbow’s End was named as the Auckland Youth Employer of the Year for its ‘youth-friendly’ approach to recruitment and track record of employing young people. The company’s successful training and development programs also contributed to its securing of the top award.

“We are particularly proud of our training and development programmes which reinforce the value we place on the personal and professional growth of our young employees,” said Leanne Laloli, team development manager at Rainbow’s End.

“We recognise that for the majority of youth we employ, working at Rainbow’s End will most likely be their first working experience and therefore it is necessary for us to spend time to develop workplace skills, knowledge and behaviours that will allow them to be successful in the workplace.”

Other businesses that received awards included: The Just Group, Intercontinental Hotels Group, McDonalds Restaurants NZ, Downer NZ, Aurecon, The Warehouse, Xero, Domino’s Pizza New Zealand and SKYCITY.

The Pledge is part of the Youth Employment initiative by Auckland Council’s Youth Connections program, and was designed to encourage employers to offer young talent work and career pathways.

More than 30 businesses have now joined the program, with 365 youth employment opportunities being pledged.

“Auckland’s businesses are growing, and at the same time one in five young Aucklanders aren’t in employment, education or training,” said Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development’s general manager of Business, Innovation and Skills Patrick McVeigh.

“Getting Auckland’s youthful talent into entry-level roles with career prospects is important to help fuel this growth, and the businesses acknowledged at the Young at Heart awards are doing just that.

“We look forward to many more businesses signing up to the Youth Employer Pledge in 2016.”