Careers Transport is showing students the industry beyond truck driving, backed by funding from the Inspiring Futures Foundation
The transport industry has talked about its workforce challenges for many years. An ageing workforce, ongoing skills shortages and increasing competition for people mean that simply recruiting from the existing workforce is no longer enough. If we want a strong and sustainable transport industry in the future, we need to actively build the next generation of people coming into it.
That is exactly what the Careers Transport programme is setting out to do.
Careers Transport is gaining real traction, with early trials demonstrating strong interest from young people and showing what could be achieved through a coordinated, industry-designed and industry-led approach to workforce development.
Support from the Inspiring Futures Foundation
The progress made so far has been possible thanks to the support of the Inspiring Futures Foundation. An initial grant enabled Careers Transport to move from an idea into development, including building the foundations of an online careers portal and piloting the programme across Canterbury and South Canterbury.
Further funding has now been awarded, allowing the programme to take its next important steps. This includes expanding the online portal, developing new resources and beginning to trial different ways of engaging with students, careers advisors, schools and, importantly, employers.
And the early results are extremely encouraging.
Opening young people’s eyes to transport
One of the clearest findings from the trials is that young people are interested in transport, but often they simply don’t know what opportunities exist.
For many students, their understanding of a transport career begins and ends with the most visible role: driving a truck.
Driving will always be an incredibly important part of our industry, but behind every truck on the road is a much bigger workforce.
There are careers in operations, dispatch, logistics, warehousing, engineering, heavy automotive, technology, health and safety, compliance, administration, sales, marketing, management and leadership – and the list continues to grow as technology changes the way our industry operates.
Careers Transport is designed to open the door to that much wider picture.
Eye-catching resources are being backed by practical information about career pathways, qualifications and the different ways people can enter the industry and progress once they are here.
The objective isn’t simply to advertise jobs. It is to inspire people to see transport as an industry they could join, develop within and build a genuine long-term career.
Connecting schools directly with industry
One of the most important elements of Careers Transport is connecting the three groups that need to work together: careers advisors, potential employees and employers.
Careers advisors need good information about the opportunities available. Students need exposure to real workplaces and real people. Employers need a practical way to connect with the future workforce.
Careers Transport aims to bring the pieces together
A key part of the developing model is the creation of local Employer Hubs, where multiple businesses can participate rather than responsibility falling on one company.
Employers will be encouraged to open their doors for short workplace visits, giving groups of students an opportunity to see a transport operation firsthand. Businesses will also be able to participate in structured work experience, with Careers Transport developing the supporting policies, procedures and resources to make hosting a student as straightforward as possible.
Having those relationships established creates a much more streamlined pathway from the school gate to the workplace.
From recruitment to workforce strategy
This is where the potential impact becomes significant.
Individual transport businesses are already investing considerable time and money in recruitment. But if we continue competing for the same limited pool of experienced people, we are moving people around the industry rather than solving the underlying workforce problem.
We need to grow the pool
A fully resourced national Careers Transport programme could fundamentally change the way our industry approaches workforce development.
Imagine having established connections with schools and careers advisors across New Zealand, supported by a national online portal, consistent industry resources, clear qualification and career pathways, employer hubs, workplace visits and structured work experience opportunities.
Over time, the programme also has the potential to provide valuable data about where students are engaging, the careers they are interested in, where workforce demand exists and how successfully people are progressing from education into employment.
That turns Careers Transport from a careers promotion initiative into an important part of a long-term industry workforce strategy.
The industry now needs to get behind it
The next stage will require further funding and direct industry involvement.
A national programme cannot rely on charitable grants alone. Industry participation, investment and employer commitment will be essential if Careers Transport is to reach its full potential.
But the trials are giving us good reason to keep going.
When young people are shown the scale of the industry, introduced to the people working within it and given clear information about careers, pathways and qualifications, they are interested. They ask questions. They want to know more.
An opportunity our industry cannot afford to miss Careers Transport is about turning that interest into a pathway and turning that pathway into the next generation of New Zealand’s transport workforce.
Careers Transport is an initiative supported through the Transport Well Charitable Trust. Businesses and individuals can support the programme through donations or by becoming involved in an Employer Hub.
To discuss joining an Employer Hub, contact Carol McGeady at carol.mcgeady@trucking.nz, or to find out more visit transportwell.nz
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