As the end of 2017 draws near, it's a good time to start planning for an even more successful 2018. Take a look at your workforce and identify any areas for improvement.

A wide range of New Zealand businesses of all sizes are achieving significant business benefits from workplace literacy training.

You can learn from their experiences about why it’s worth the investment of time and effort to address your employees’ skills gaps. See below for some inspirational success stories and how you can find out more.

Catherine Beard
027 463 3212 or cbeard@businessnz.org.nz

Activity in New Zealand's manufacturing sector during October remained within a fairly tight band of expansion over recent months, according to the BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for October was 57.2, representing very healthy and consistent levels of expansion.  Overall, the sector has remained in expansion in all months since October 2012, and  the fundamentals of this October's result remain healthy.

The two main sub index values of production (60.7) and new orders (60.1) indicated strong expansion for October.  Also, while the proportion of positive comments dipped in October (64.2%) compared with 69.5% in September, it was still similar to the 65% recorded in August. More...

On 1 December the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 will come into force.

The aim is to reduce both the immediate harm to people and longer-term illness caused by hazardous substances in the workplace.

It’s no small matter. A hazardous substance is any product or chemical that has explosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic or corrosive properties – and they’re everywhere. Around one in three New Zealand workplaces use, manufacture, handle or store them. This includes factories, farmers and growers, as well as printers, collision repairers, hairdressers and retailers. They are in commonly used products such as fuels and LPG, solvents, cleaning solutions and agrichemicals.

Businesses will already be familiar with the HSWA approach to managing work-related health and safety risks. From 1 December this includes hazardous substances. It’s another step in helping to ensure our people get home healthy and safe.

WorkSafe’s website has information, guidance and FAQs.
Its online Hazardous Substances Toolbox has tools to help. You can also subscribe to the Hazardous Substances Update.

The Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 are available on the New Zealand Legislation website.

A wide range of New Zealand businesses of all sizes are achieving significant business benefits from workplace literacy training. Learn from their experiences about why it’s worth the investment of time and effort to address your employees’ skills gaps.

For example, security workers from Auckland’s Ten 7 Security and Waiheke Documents & Security have undertaken workplace literacy and numeracy training in conjunction with the Level 2 National Certificate in Security. Together with being trained and qualified, learning new skills and knowledge was already having an impact for individuals and their workplaces – improving health and safety, resulting in better conditions and job security, and better performance at work. More...

Read more success stories here>>

Now in its 6th year, MobileTECH is the major cross-industry event for New Zealand's technology developers and primary sector leaders.

This 2 day event showcases new and innovative technologies that are being adopted by agricultural, horticultural and forestry companies to increase their prouctivity and operational effectiveness. 

The MobileTECH 2018 event theme is 'Innovation through Smart Data'. They are putting a call out for speakers for keynote presentations, TECH talks, a developers roundtable, an early adopters panel and a meet the future leaders panel.

Apply to speak 

Callaghan Innovation has approved the 2017/18 round of Student Experience Grants, with 139 businesses to offer 358 students paid work over the summer break.

“This year saw a record number of businesses applying, with 179 businesses applying for 418 internships. This is a great sign that the scheme is valued by businesses and popular with students,” said Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith. 

The R&D Experience Grant is administered by Callaghan Innovation and supports undergraduate students studying science, technology, business, engineering or design to gain valuable work experience during the summer student break. The grant provides funding of $18 an hour for up to 400 hours of work, which provides businesses with extra expertise to further their work - which is the central aim of the programme. More...

Call for Abstracts is now open for MaD2018: A Collaborative Future for NZ Manufacturing and Design taking place on 21-22 May 2018 at the ANZ Viaduct Event Centre, Auckland.

Save the date! This event offers the opportunity to learn about exciting, new manufacturing and design research and to be inspired through examples of positive collaborations between industry and researchers. 

Registration opens 12 January 2018.

Don’t forget to check out our contract manufacturers directory if you are looking for contract manufacturing support or you are wanting to advertise your services! 

There are some great resources - see here->>

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