Skills Highway image

Diversity Award winner trains 100 staff in workplace literacy

Diversity Award winner trains 100 staff in workplace literacy

Last updated 5 September 2017
Last updated 5 September 2017

Waste Management NZ Ltd, a country-wide waste and environmental services operation, has successfully trained 100 staff members in a Skills Highway workplace literacy programme.

The winner of the 20th annual Diversity Awards plans to train another 75 staff members by the end of this year in their Skills First initiative. Waste Management provides 40 hours of training for each participant. The programme is delivered by Upskills

Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) staff visited the Whitford Landfill owned by Waste Disposal Services and operated by Waste Management to congratulate the winners.   

“The enthusiasm and confidence boost seen by those involved is inspiring. The benefits to both the company and the individual for improved communication skills and dialogue are a win-win,” said Mike Winterbottom, Regional Manager, Waste Management NZ Ltd. 

“The Diversity Awards are an inspirational event,” said Darel Hall, Principal Advisor in the Operations Directorate at TEC. “Organisations who take part are inspired by the examples of other organisations and what they can do. Even during the Awards members representing organisations were taking notes, swapping stories, and making plans to do even better the next year.”

Four organisations entered the Skills Highway category, which celebrates initiatives to assist employees with their literacy and numeracy. They are KiwiRail, Countdown, Waste Management, and Coca-Cola Amatil. 

About Skills Highway

The Skills Highway workplace literacy programme is funded by the TEC and managed by the Industry Training Federation. Improving literacy and numeracy can unlock productivity, kick-start educational success, and deliver far-reaching benefits to workers, their families and workplaces.

Skills Highway initiatives include:

  • developing good practice strategies for introducing and maintaining literacy and numeracy programmes in the workplace
  • acknowledging employers who have successfully introduced workplace literacy and numeracy training through the Skills Highway Award 
  • promoting the Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund for employers
  • supporting employees to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

 

Image caption: TEC staff visit the Whitford Landfill owned by Waste Disposal Services and operated by Waste Management. From L to R Mike Winterbottom (Regional Manager, Waste Management NZ Ltd), Marie Wilson (Senior Advisor on secondment from the Ministry of Education), Darel Hall (TEC Principal Advisor Skills Highway)