Ricky Howes – Smart Start

The Hastings District Council and the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) offer Smart Start, a 19 week programme with the opportunity to gain work experience to help  identify a career pathway. Clients are placed into work experience with local employers and provided one day per week tuition at EIT to gain a National Certificate in Employment Skills. The first programme commenced in July 2010 with 31 participants spread between Hastings and Flaxmere. Outcomes of the pilot were so encouraging, 11 clients got themselves off the benefit due to finding employment.

In 2011, Smart Start was extended to Napier and that's when GEON print and communication solutions got on-board. Site Manager Ricky Howes says he was approached at the perfect time, as the company was heading into its busy end of year period when they normally employ several casual staff. The opportunity to take on a new employee for the first five weeks without it costing the business a cent was too enticing for Ricky to turn down. 26 year old Rob Kemp started with GEON at the end of 2011 and his employment has since been extended to a six month contract. GEON is a multi-national award winning company servicing contracts across New Zealand and Australia in all areas of the print and communications industry including design, print, mailing and warehousing & distribution. With 17 years experience in the industry, Ricky Howes has seen a fair number of staff come and go but says Smart Start participant Rob Kemp "picked the job up faster than most and you could tell he really wanted it. A lot of people that I come across feel like the world owes them something – Rob's the complete opposite".

The initial five weeks' work experience and subsequent six month subsidy under Smart Start, are huge carrots for local businesses according to Ricky Howes and he says more workplaces looking to recruit should "give it a go". It got 26 year old musician and father of one Rob Kemp a foot in the door, and could do the same for you.