Five Tauranga school-leavers are set to begin tertiary studies with an extra spring in their step after being awarded scholarships by local company Ryan+Alexander.

The recruitment firm, which has a particular focus on filling job opportunities in the regions, created the scholarships to celebrate its first five years in business.

Ryan+Alexander co-director Bernadette Ryan-Hopkins says the decision to support students from state schools who are staying in the Bay of Plenty for tertiary study in 2022 is strategic.

'We felt that when students go to Auckland or Wellington, there are lots of opportunities for scholarships, and we didn't believe there were many opportunities for people who are wanting to study here.”

The Bay of Plenty community has helped Ryan+Alexander grow rapidly during its five years of business and the scholarships are a way for herself and co-director Kiri Burney and their staff to give something back, she says.

'It also helps us to support the local community because we're building and growing talent here and that's fundamental to what we do.”

Bernadette says she has noticed a loss of potential workforce in the region as many younger people move away after high school to study.

Having the University of Waikato's Tauranga campus open here has helped retain young people, but both co-directors felt Ryan+Alexander could play a part too.

'Those young people are part of the community and part of the economic development in the region. Tauranga is our fifth-largest city. This economy is a real powerhouse within New Zealand and will continue to be so.

'It's an attractive place to live, people are wanting to come here in droves. If we don't have to go outside our region for these great people, and they remain here, that's only going to be great for Tauranga.”

Kiri says she is humbled by how much the scholarship recipients had achieved.

'Our entire team are amazed by these students. They've demonstrated such outstanding abilities not just in their academic work but within their wider communities.

'These are unbelievable young people. Who knows what they might go on to do. They are the future. If we can make their lives even a tiny little bit easier as they embark on the next phase, then that's a great thing. To be able to support them is a privilege.”

The Ryan+Alexander scholarships are being awarded through the Acorn Foundation charitable fund.

CEO Lori Luke says the foundation is so grateful for the company's commitment to the community.

'The five students who have won these scholarships will value both the monetary support and the confidence boost they will have received to have their hard work acknowledged. It makes such a difference to Acorn to be able to support promising young students with the help of generous businesses like Ryan+Alexander.”

The scholarships have been awarded to the following students, who each receive $3500:

Tauranga Boys' College: Moses Razak-Begg who will be studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Accounting and English.

Tauranga Girls' College: Kahurangi Ngatai, who is studying towards a Bachelor of Education at the University of Waikato's Tauranga Campus.

Otumoetai College: Georgia Dresner, who will be studying towards a Bachelor of Creative Industries at Toi Ohomai.

Mount Maunganui College: Briana Carling, who is studying towards a Bachelor of Science at the Waikato University, Tauranga.

Papamoa College – Brendon Alesana, who will complete a Diploma of Engineering course at Toi Ohomai, before going on to an Engineering Degree with the University of Waikato.