July 2008

SCNZ CMe Mentoring Programme Pilot UnderwayThe SCNZ CMe mentoring programme is scheduledto start in July 2008.Fifteen eager students have been selected for thispilot programme and while still enrolled at school,for one day each week they will attend this course.For the first 5 weeks they will train at ManukauInstitute of Technology (MIT), learning about sitesafety, and basic welding and cutting skills.During the second 5 week block, students willcomplete work experience, 1 day per week, withan SCNZ member company.During the school holidays students will then haveone week of paid employment with their companyto gain further work experience. After the school holidays the students will spend another 3 weeks atMIT being introduced to computer modeling techniques and reviewing their skills and work experience.On conclusion of the course, SCNZ will arrange for a meeting of participating companies, schools andMIT to discuss and review the pilot programme. The intention being that this be developed into a fullyear programme for 2009.Fletcher Easysteel Participate in Workchoice DayEvery year Fletcher Easysteel doesits bit for youngsters interested incareers in steel by hosting studentsfrom two schools. First toarrive on the morning of May 20was a group from Auckland Seventh-DayAdventist High School,under the watchful eye of their Careers/GatewayCo-ordinator, ColinHutchins, pictured on the right.extremely high value. A career inFletchers’ supply chain beckonedthose interested in the company’snetwork of global suppliers.The steel coil can also be cut andpalletised to order. Essentially, thestudents realised, Fletcher Easysteelis a distribution company, sothose with an interest in logisticscould see opportunities in Despatch.Welcoming the party was KenHainsworth (holding his white hardhat), Fletcher Easysteel’s BusinessDevelopment Manager. One of thefirst points he made was that thereare plenty of careers for women insteel, in sales for example. Thefemale student duly took note; nodirty hands; building customer relationshipsand managing thosewith smart computer software.Ken’s guided tour soon had thestudents looking at Fletcher’s specialsteels and hearing about theirThese rolls of small gauge steelare known as coils and can beused to make many steel components,such as steel decking rolledto special profiles for compositeflooring in multi-storey buildings.It was time for the company providedlunch and a chance to firesome questions about magneticcranes, cutting heavy duty steel,the company’s excellent worksafety record and its readiness tosupport employees keen to furthertheir studies and develop their careerpaths.Ken Hainsworth is passionateabout his industry, which is just aswell, because in the afternoon hewould be doing it all over againwith students Kelston Boys HighSchool. “I’ve been 40 years insteel,” says Ken, “and loved everyminute!” It’ll make them think,Ken, so good on you!