I've just finished a series of government procurement briefings in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland as a joint initiative between MBIE, NZTE and BusinessNZ. Called "Increase your strike rate with government", the information we rolled out is designed to help make it easier for you to work with government agencies to deliver innovative and effective procurement solutions that get the best value for New Zealanders, including:

• A new online supplier resource centre and other services designed to help businesses improve their strike rate in winning major and complex contracts
• An insider view of what government buyers want from suppliers
• The new government model tender templates and new Government Electronic Tender Service (GETS) that aim to make it easier for business to navigate opportunities with government.

Improvements such as standardisation of documentation means businesses don't have to keep supplying the same information.

If you missed the briefings you can find out more here.

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

Employment activity reached its highest level as the manufacturing sector continued to show stronger expansion during October, according to the latest BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for September was 59.3. This was 0.8 points higher than September, and the highest result recorded so far for 2014.

The PMI has continued to build momentum over the last five months. The fact that employment is at its highest ever level since the survey began in 2002, provides another boost in the arm for the sector.  In addition, the proportion of positive comments from manufacturers (68.7%) was well up on results from previous months. This all bodes well for a healthy end to 2014. More...

Struggling to keep the talent pipeline full?

Here is a useful plan of attack from the National Association of Manufacturers in the USA.  It's all about industry taking control in a collaborative fashion.

Overcoming the Manufacturing Skills Gap: A Guide for Building a Workforce-Ready Talent Pipeline in Your Community takes you through the four steps to building a Manufacturing Talent Pipeline:
1. Assess and Connect
2. Align/Collaborate with Other Manufacturers
3. Engage Educational Institutions, Other Training Providers
4. Create a System to Build and Sustain a Talent Pipeline.

More...

In Bella Katz's latest white paper, eleven Australia-based leaders of New Zealand companies discuss their Australian strategy, and how they got there. They include leaders from Intergen, ecostore, Autex, West Coast Energy, SentientPPM, Delica, Certus and Cranleigh Merchant Bankers.

"It has been a fascinating series of conversations that brings home why some New Zealand companies thrive in Australia,
while others crash and burn. One interview was particularly poignant and summed up all the don’ts that New Zealand companies should heed when embarking on an Australian expansion...

"They had much to say and several chose to go off record, as they didn’t think their New Zealand contemporaries would like
what they had to say."  More...

If your business or industry sector relies on technical / engineering / science / high value manufacturing talent, you’ll be aware of the vital need to improve the recruitment, retention and development of such talent.   Some new research (3 page summary) could help us all facilitate this.

The research uses a very broad definition of ‘engineering’ (eg production, software, electrical, biomedical, process, electronics, materials, design, automation, mechanical and so on). This also includes the technicians that often assist other occupations.

Several key issues need to be addressed (including in early education and high school):

• the perceived low awareness, understanding and reputation of technology and engineering as careers

• the need to introduce schools, teachers, students, parents to the many great future options technology and engineering can provide.

Industry has a role to play in this. The E2E team is keen to hear from industries and businesses wanting to increase the number of technology and engineering applicants for positons. More...

Christchurch gumboot manufacturing company Sandford Industries is well and truly back on its feet post-earthquake after becoming the first Kiwi supplier to sign a deal with Number One Shoe Warehouse – New Zealand’s largest footwear retailer.

Sandford Industries Director Kris Webster says the $80,000 contract to supply 7000 pairs of gumboots to Number One Shoes is a significant step for his Christchurch company and it took two years to come together. More...

A new way to present NCEA results is now available on the NZQA website.

The Vocational Pathway Award has been developed so students can more easily show prospective employers the qualifications they have and how they relate to work in a certain industry.

Rather than a long list of NCEA qualifications, the award provides a quick snapshot of students’ success in one of six Vocational Pathways: Primary Industries, Construction and Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Technology, Social and Community Services, Services Industries and Creative Industries. More...

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