Ministerial Visit
On Thursday 28th June 2019, Capital Training was privileged to have the opportunity to showcase to the Minister of Employment, Hon Willie Jackson, the impact that our Employment Focused Team have when preparing clients for the modern employment market.
Capital Training’s Employment Focused Team, consisting of Barb McGirr (Manager), Jacqueline Feyen (Tutor) and Caroline Otton (Team Administrator), not only train people up to meet market needs but also positively influence the lives of those that attend the course. The team run specialised short courses that focus on key employer needs, predominantly within the contact centre industry. The team meet the employment needs of several large clients, time and time again, by instilling in their candidates both the technical skills and the soft skills needed to excel in the role.
In recognition of the Minister’s visit, the team came together with some of their strongest partners, Concentrix and the Ministry of Social Development, to illustrate the results that a partnership between Capital Training, the Ministry of Social Development and an Employer can create. The Ministry of Social Development refers the candidates to Capital Training, who ensure that the candidates receive the necessary learning to be able to move into the Concentrix contact centre. It is a partnership that has been changing the lives of people on the unemployment benefit and providing Concentrix with quality, well-trained employees for over two and a half years.
Our colleagues at the Ministry of Social Development; Gagau Annandale-Stone (Regional Commissioner) and David Ensor (Labour Market Manager), along with Steve Ritchie (Delivery Programme Executive for Australia and New Zealand), Rebeka Wolfgramm (Recruitment Advisor) and Lachlan Whisker (Trainer and Quality Analyst) from Concentrix further emphasised the strength that businesses working together can have in education and the workplace. Lachlan was one of the first graduates of the Capital Training Concentrix Course and has excelled in making a career for himself at Concentrix since completing this programme. The communication skills and confidence that Lachlan developed during his time at Capital Training were on display as he discussed a range of topics with Hon Willie Jackson, ranging from the motivation of young people in an educational environment like Capital Training, to how our graduates fare in a fast-paced communication heavy environment like the Concentrix contact centre.
The visit culminated with the Minister speaking to prospective candidates, who are currently on course, about employment and the expectations of the workplace. He was especially taken with how well our candidates were dressed (thank you Dress for Success for your ongoing support of our candidates in providing suitable interview attire) and gave them an insight into what employers are looking for in interviews.
While the visit was held at Capital Training, its success was a result of everyone who was there. As an organisation and as people, we are truly lucky to know and get to work with the great people from Concentrix, the Ministry of Social Development and all of the other organisations that we have relationships with. We are grateful to Hon Willie Jackson for taking the time out from his busy schedule to find out more about what Capital Training does.