Everyone is well aware of the staffing shortages in every sector of the transport industry and the pressures this puts on businesses and their current staff. The time and energy it takes to employ new staff to either replace staff who have left or as additional staff required for an expanding business is a problem for every employer.

What if there was an easy way to get in front of thousands of potential employees who are keen and willing to join our industry?

Well now there is! TR Group and Talent Central have teamed together to create ‘Job Fest‘, a transport industry specific expo that gets all sectors of the transport industry directly in front of prospective employees.

On 20 June 2018 a one-day expo will be held at Manfeild Park Stadium in Feilding. Businesses are invited to attend and display their business to thousands of year 12 and 13 secondary students, as well as members of the public, who are interested in joining the transport industry.

The organisers want this expo to be interactive, so businesses are invited to bring along their vehicles, tools of the trade and information about their businesses so that prospective employees can see, touch, and get a real feel for what it would be like to work for, and with, those businesses.

The aim is to place 100 people into employment within the industry via this expo, whether that is full-time or part-time/casual roles (after school, weekend work, etc.).

Even businesses that don‘t currently have vacancies are encouraged to attend, as data collected on the day could help with future employment opportunities as they arise.

On the day businesses will get to interact one-on-one with all the attendees. All secondary schools within the lower North Island have been invited, as well as UCOL and Massey University. The day will also be open to the general public to come and have a look. To date all 42 secondary schools within the Horizons Region have confirmed their attendance.

Organisers say the uptake to date has been incredible and all the schools are excited about the expo and the pathway that it will create for some of their students to gain employment.

Job Fest Manawatu has a Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/jobfest18/?ref=br_rs, and if your business is interested in attending, email either jobfest@talentcentral.org.nz or richie@trgoup.co.nz.