The South Island firm is one of the biggest maritime training employers, second only to the Navy.
A South Island tourism giant has been named the winner of one of New Zealand’s most prestigious diversity awards thanks to its impressive inter-generational training program.
Real Journeys – which operates a number of ships and sailing vessels – won the Tomorrow’s Workforce Award and the Supreme Award at last night’s Diversity Awards New Zealand.
The win comes after the company created a scheme to leverage the experience of its aging workers in order to provide exceptional learning opportunities for young people in the local area.
The organisation pairs new workers with those who are close to retirement in order to facilitate the transfer of skills and give older staff a greater purpose.
"The benefits of the maritime training have been increased engagement levels, more satisfaction around the leadership development opportunities that we offer, the respect that is given to our elder workers who are experienced and skilled and been in the industry for so long and the opportunities for the next generation coming through," said Kevin Sharpe, director of people and performance at Real Journeys.
Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie, chief executive of Diversity Works NZ, praised the company for its hard work.
“Real Journeys is not just learning about diversity and inclusion, it’s living it every day as part of its operation,” she said. "They are deserving winners and prove that diversity and inclusion is not solely the domain of corporations based in big cities; it’s alive and well in heartland New Zealand.”
The initiative places Real Journeys as the second largest maritime training employer in New Zealand – second only to the Navy.
The full list of winners from the 20th annual Diversity Awards New Zealand is:
Diversity Awards NZ 2017 Award winners
Supreme Award – Real Journeys
Tomorrow’s Workforce Award – Real Journeys
Empowerment Award – Air New Zealand
Skills Highway Award – Waste Management NZ Ltd
Positive Inclusion Award – ANZ
Cultural Celebration Award – Māori Women’s Development Inc
Diversability Award – Coffee Educators Ltd
Work Life Balance Award – Lion
Walk the Talk Award – Fatu Patolo, Coca-Cola Amatil
Emerging Diversity and Inclusion Award – The Warehouse Group
Highly Commended Awards
Russell McVeagh – Tomorrow’s Workforce
Fletcher Building Limited – Emerging Diversity and Inclusion Award
Elizabeth Knox Home & Hospital – Cultural Celebration Award
