Established as a way of helping to lift the performance of companies in the printing and packaging sector, the Fund emerged from a pilot programme the industry training organisation worked on in 2008. The pilot scheme, initiated by the Department of Labour and the Industry Training Federation, looked at ways of helping companies to develop and make the best use of the resources available to them.
Joan Grace, training chief executive at Print NZ, says the current economic climate is the ideal time for companies to focus on internally driven productivity improvement and training and development. She says, “We are encouraging our member companies to make good use of the current downturn by investing in their businesses and preparing for the inevitable recovery. Small changes in workplace culture can in turn lead to increased productivity through savings, higher turnover and a more motivated workforce. The PrintNZ Training Fund is our way of helping kick start that process for our members.”
Companies selected to participate in the project, from specifically developed criteria, will be matched with consultants made available to each company for eight days over the course of the project, which runs from April to December. PrintNZ says that the consultants will provide a thorough analysis of each company, suggest ways to improve performance and assist with the implementation of revised practices.
Print NZ adds that companies seeking ways to become more competitive and innovative stand a better chance of selection, as do firms that recognise good business performance and provide a positive work experience for staff.
Companies can register their interest in involvement in the project, or obtain further information, by contacting PrintNZ Training on 0800 654 455 or email info@printnz.co.nz. Applications close March 31, with the final selection of participating companies taking place in April.
