For the first time since leaving Waihi College in 2018, Ryan Trubshaw is feeling hopeful about his future.

'I really wanted to be a mechanic but I wasn't sure where to start. Gr8 Job Hauraki helped me a lot to get a foot in the door,” he says.

One of seven young people matched with local job opportunities through the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs programme so far, Ryan started work with Tony Richards Toyota in Paeroa in December last year and has since been offered an apprenticeship.

He says prior to registering with Gr8 Job Hauraki he was doing part time work in retail but his heart wasn't in it.

'I was feeling a bit aimless. I wanted to stay in the area so I approached a few local businesses about mechanic apprenticeships with no success.

"My other option was to do a Polytech course in Tauranga but that seemed unaffordable because I would have to either travel every day or find a flat in the city and I didn't think I would have enough income for that."

Tony Richards Toyota Service Manager Logan Brunt says the programme offered some very good incentives for the company to look into employing an apprentice, including matching them up with the right person.

'It can be a bit of a gamble to take on young people but Ryan is a really good fit with the team.

'Initially you have to put a lot of work into young people but they bring a lot of fun and banter into the workplace and they pay for themselves after a while. It's rewarding for me to put the time back into them. It makes my job more enjoyable.”

He encourages other local employers to get involved with Gr8 Job Hauraki and give local young people a chance to shine,

'I started out as an apprentice myself, we all did. Everyone has to start somewhere and if we don't give our young people the opportunity, they won't get to where we are, so you need to take that leap of faith,” he says.

For Ryan, that leap of faith has been life changing. Page 2 Gr8 Job Hauraki helping local youth

'Every morning I can't wait to get up and go to work. I'm learning lots every day and really enjoying it. It's made me feel hopeful.”

About Gr8 Job Hauraki

Hauraki District Council is supporting its communities to recover from Covid-19. Last year we successfully applied for $250,000 to help drive local employment opportunities, particularly for young people and those out of work due to Covid-19.

The money is funding a community recovery programme developed by the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development.

The Mayors Taskforce For Jobs (MTFJ) is a nationwide network of New Zealand's Mayors, working together towards the vision of all young people under 25 being engaged in appropriate education, training, work or other positive activity in their communities. Find out more - https://www.mayorstaskforceforjobs.co.nz/

We've come up with our own local brand for the programme – Gr8 Job Hauraki – and appointed an employment liaison officer to run the programme.

Support available includes entry-level training, wage-based incentives, and other support for businesses looking to take on staff.

Our goal is to facilitate 25 new job opportunities by July 2021. We've filled seven of those opportunities already with another seven on the boil. We currently have 30 active applicants registered for job opportunities.

To register as a jobseeker or if you are looking for staff please email Julie.Stephenson@hauraki-dc.govt.nz