Gateway to the Future

University education has replaced vocational training, resulting in employees with no practical experience. The Gateway programme addresses this skills gap. | By Drake Chamberlain-Marks. Photography by Daniel Rose
When I was a boy, fresh-faced and pretending to be innocent, schools didn’t put a lot of emphasis on career planning. Everyone just went to college then university and was spat out at the other end, qualified and ready to enter a profession. Which profession we chose seems to have been left to chance.

If you hadn’t worked out your ideal job by the end of seventh form, you just signed up for whatever your mates were doing. There were no career days or industry brochures. If a career advisor existed at my school, he could have taught the SAS a thing or two about being invisible in your surroundings. Career planning was all up to us – distracted, fidgety, ill-informed us.

Luckily, we now live in a more enlightened age and this situation has been completely turned around. Thanks to the efforts of secondary schools, industry groups, tertiary education providers and several government departments, secondary school students in 2010 have an unrivalled amount of career planning information at their fingertips.

And not just information; students are now being given experience. Through the government initiatives of STAR, Curriculum Alignment and Gateway, students can get a real taste for what it’s like to work in different jobs. Choices range from one-day courses to programmes that last for several terms, each offered through partnerships between schools and industry or tertiary providers.

A flagship programme for senior students is Gateway. This is the ultimate try-before-you-buy scheme for a student’s career path. They experience an industry in depth, but from within the safety and backups of the school system. Students are paired with an industry of their choice and spend a few hours each week during school time working at a suitable business, as if they were an employee.

Clear and valuable learning outcomes are determined in advance and assessed by industry professionals. In many cases, students gain unit standards that count towards their NCEA.

The Gateway programme is overseen by the Tertiary Education Commission, which provides funding, guidance and policy development and implementation.

I already knew that Gateway was thriving in the Top of The South, but I wanted to look at how it works for the different groups of people involved. I spoke to students, employers and Gateway coordinators, learning along the way that the programme is going even better than I’d imagined.

The students

Gateway is all about the students, so it was great to find that those I spoke to about the programme were all brimming with infectious enthusiasm about their experiences.

Connie Vining: student at Nelson College for Girls

In her final year at secondary school, Connie Vining’s first Gateway placement is right in the heart of Nelson’s publishing industry – at the offices of WildTomato! Connie was overjoyed to get such a high-profile placement, and the role has proven to be even more exciting and more varied than she’d imagined. “I expected to come in and be the coffee girl. But on my first day here, they had me doing all kinds of stuff.”

Indeed, after only two weeks at her placement, Connie had done a wide range of activities integral to a magazine’s production: uploading columns and interviews onto wildtomato.co.nz, observing a cover shoot, and researching and writing the events section for an upcoming issue.

Connie goes into the office once a week for a full day, which is a big time commitment for someone gearing up for university. “The hardest part for me is getting enough university entrance credits,” Connie says. “I need them in areas not related to this placement, but I’ve been told by people at Uni that it’s also really good to have practical experience – that can be a foot in the door.”

And gaining knowledge and skills can outweigh having to work a little harder elsewhere. “It’s a good setup for a career in the industry,” she says. “With Gateway, you’re given a booklet where you write down everything you do each day. So if you go for a job interview, it gives the employer an overview of everything you’ve done in the industry.”

Connie’s enjoyed being in the workforce so far. “I thought it was going to be stressful, but I got here and it was really quite calm. Then the FishHead [WildTomato’s new sister publication in Wellington] deadline came along and things got a bit hectic. But I’ve had a lot of work, which is good.” The atmosphere is certainly enhanced by her co-workers being upbeat and supportive. “It’s been fun,” Connie says. “They offer me biscuits and show me pictures of their cats.”

Her advice to other students considering the Gateway programme:

“If there’s something out there that you really want to have a go at, you should… I’d definitely recommend it.”

Sarah Muldoon: student at Motueka High School

Sarah is studying early childhood learning at Lower Moutere School, a placement that helped cement her decision to pursue this as a career. “Maureen was a great teacher,” she says, “and made me want to do it even more.”

Sarah enjoyed working with all her colleagues at the placement. “They were really friendly and helpful, and they talked to me about how they went about studying and where they thought was a good place to train. They also helped out with any problems with the kids.”

Of course, working with children is never going to be completely smooth sailing. “Sometimes the kids played up and had to be put in their place,” Sarah says. “You have to talk to them at a level they understand, and eventually they’ll go back to normal behaviour. Time out is the punishment if they don’t.”

Her advice to other students considering the Gateway programme:

“I’d advise them to take up any opportunity through Gateway. It’ll get them thinking about whether or not they want to do a particular job or be in a certain industry.”

Zoe Jennings: student at Nelson College for Girls

Zoe studied engineering through Trinder, a placement that had a huge positive impact on her life. Originally, she entered Gateway just to get out of class. “When I started doing it, I was one of those students who hated school,” Zoe says. “It was pretty much just something to get out of it.”

She quickly learnt that she couldn’t afford to coast, and that success in the industry would start with success in her studies. However, the transition from school work to engineering work was not an easy one.

“It was quite hard at first – really hands on and really physical. Everyone always told me: ‘Don’t leave school; you have it so easy.’ I didn’t believe them. But when I started working at Trinder, I thought: ‘Wow, I really did used to do nothing all day.’”

Pivotal to Zoe’s experience was the structure of Gateway – being able to try out the work environment over a long period of time whilst still supported by the safety net of school. “If I went in as an apprentice, I don’t think I would have stayed.”

The hard work has paid off. Zoe managed to get an impressive amount of experience in a wide range of engineering roles. She also learnt to work well as part of a team. Whether it was cutting, welding or shaping, everyone worked together most of the time – each person taking part of the job. Her co-workers treated her well too. “They treated me the same as any other employee,” she laughs. “I got teased as much as anyone else.”

Her advice to other students considering the Gateway programme:

“Don’t think it’s going to be easy because it’s not. They might cushion you for a couple of weeks but then it’ll be: ‘You’re here; you’re treated as another employee.’ If you don’t turn up on time, they’ll fire you. That’s just how it goes.”

Daniel Peek: student at Waimea College

Daniel studied radio broadcasting with MediaWorks radio stations. This is his second Gateway placement, the first being last year with Fresh FM.

Daniel found his transition into the workforce very easy through MediaWorks. “I worked with a great bunch of people,” he says. “They were very loving and caring, and wanted me to come in every week. And they haven’t turned me down yet, so that must be a good sign,” he laughs.

He’s had a good time there, working hard but having fun doing it. “I’ve featured in newspapers, set up promotions and done a few on-air weather reads with Tom Martin.” (Not to mention the partying and free giveaways he’s been involved with...)

Daniel got into Gateway as he needed to have some work experience when applying to study at the Broadcasting College at CPIT, where he hopes to be next year. Being on the programme has given him experience, confidence and contacts – all of which make a solid base for a successful career.

His advice to other students considering the Gateway programme:

“I’d tell them to go for it. It’s a good programme. You get out there in the workforce and that’s what employers are looking for – hands-on experience.”

Ashley Shepard: student at Marlborough Girls’ College

Ashley studied animal care through the SPCA, having always been interested in vet nursing and working with animals. Knowing that Gateway would offer her work experience, she thought it would be a great place to start.

At the SPCA, she was taught how to feed and care for all the different animals, and found the experience very positive. “I liked working with the animals and being able to do the assessment through NMIT,” she says. Her employers were great too. “They were very helpful and answered any questions I had when I was stuck.”

This wasn’t Ashley’s first placement through Gateway. Originally, she was interested in early childhood learning, but she soon found out that it wasn’t for her. Her placement at the SPCA has solidified her career choice. After finishing Year 13 next year, Ashley plans to study to be a vet nurse at NMIT.

Her advice to other students considering the Gateway programme:

“It’s good to get into. You learn a lot about what you like, as well as what you’d like to do in the future. And it’s good to be able to try different jobs before you leave school.”

The employers

Employers were universally positive about the programme, citing big benefits to themselves as well as the students. Here’s what some of them had to say.

Jack Martin: editor of WildTomato

Jack is very enthusiastic about the Gateway programme. This year he has Connie Vining from Nelson College for Girls working with him. “I want to encourage young people into journalism,” Jack says. “They are the future of the industry.”

Jack has found the experience rewarding. “For one thing, they’re free labour,” he laughs. “But they also increase the skills of your staff, because in teaching something to someone who knows so little, you teach yourself. You never really understand something unless you can teach someone else how to do it. Obviously, it does slow things down at first, but then things become more efficient.”

Jack believes that the Gateway programme is filling a valuable gap created over the past few decades by the movement away from vocational training and towards university education. “If you haven’t had any practical, on-the-job training, you’re pretty much useless when you start,” he says. “While universities are great, they don’t provide that vital, real-life mettle testing that comes from actual work experience.”

Would he recommend Gateway to other employers?

“On the strength of how marvellous Connie has been, I’d absolutely have a Gateway student again. It has a beneficial effect on your business in the short term, but more importantly you’re encouraging well-trained employees of the future.”

Sarah Clarke: promotions coordinator at MediaWorks

MediaWorks has been involved in Gateway for several years. This year, they had Daniel Peek from Waimea College working with them, whose hard work has certainly managed to impress. “He makes my Thursdays a lot more stress free,” Sarah says. “He knows what he’s doing. We just give him a list and he does it.”

“There are a lot of job opportunities in radio at the moment, but only for hardworking, enthusiastic people,” says Sarah. “It’s all about who you know, and Daniel’s made a great foundation in Nelson; he’s made a lot of good connections. There are jobs out there. It’s about impressing the right people and doing well.”

Would she recommend Gateway to other employers?

“Yeah. Obviously, it might not work in some places, but definitely for the harder-to-get-into places. If you want young people to be keen to get into your industry, I would absolutely recommend it.”

Maureen Wilkinson: primary teacher at Lower Moutere School

Maureen is passionate about the Gateway programme. This year, she had Sarah Muldoon from Motueka High School working with her. “We jump at the chance to have anyone come in who’s interested in children. If someone’s passionate about children, it’s nice that they can follow their dreams.”

Maureen is full of praise for Sarah. “She’s gentle, interested, dedicated, has great empathy for children and uses her initiative. She’s a really lovely young lady,” Maureen says. “The children loved Wednesdays because that was when Sarah came.”

Would she recommend Gateway to other employers?

“Absolutely. There are great spin-offs. Having Sarah in the classroom was brilliant for help and support. And there are spin-offs for the kids when they realise some of the things they can do at high school. Also, it brings the community closer. Everyone hears about it and realises it’s a good idea.”

The Gateway coordinators

If you’re going to have dealings with any Gateway coordinator in the Top of The South, then rest assured that you’re in good hands. Our region has an extremely talented and committed group of people administering the programme. In every school, Gateway coordinators are working hard to get students into the right placements, and to build strong and mutually-advantageous links with industry.

I spoke to several Gateway coordinators, all of whom were positive about how Gateway is going and hugely grateful to the employers that help make it happen.

Marlene Carter: Gateway coordinator at Marlborough Girls’ College

How do you feel about the Gateway programme?

“It’s tremendous. It allows students who are ready for work and focused on a career to get real, hands-on experience. It also allows them access to various employers in the community – some of whom are looking for keen young people.”

What changes do you see in Gateway students?

“We see a more dynamic approach; a more focused student. In fact, they come alive when exposed at length to the real world of work.”

Lyn Guilliard and Delyth Logan: Gateway coordinators at Waimea College

How do you feel about the Gateway programme?

“Within our school and community, Gateway is a high-profile programme that attracts high-calibre participants. Our students go through a selection process to determine their suitability for the programme. Because of this, employers have been impressed by the quality and commitment of the people we’ve put forward.”

What changes do you see in Gateway students?

“For many of our students, Gateway is the reason they stay at school. The experience gives them a real focus on their future employment.”

Muriel Moran: Gateway coordinator at Motueka High School

How do you feel about the Gateway programme?

“It meets the needs of the growing number of senior students choosing to stay at school. They can train in an area they want to work in, and gain credits towards their NCEA qualifications.”

What changes do you see in Gateway students?

“When students stay with an employer for a full year, they gain self-confidence, related skills, relationships with other staff and clients, and an understanding of what’s involved in independent learning and on-the-job training.”

Ella Salt: Gateway coordinator at Nelson College for Girls

How do you feel about the Gateway programme?

“Gateway is a wonderful programme that I feel is still gaining recognition amongst teachers and the community.”

What changes do you see in Gateway students?

“Students seem to blossom and thrive when they find the correct placement, which is most of the time. And the effect is reciprocal. I’ve had primary teachers and early childcare providers say they’ve learnt things from the Gateway students. It also provides students with the opportunity to learn in a real-world work setting.”

In closing

Gateway is alive, well and effective in the Top of The South. But don’t forget that it relies on the goodwill and support of people just like you to maintain its success.

Gateway coordinators are always interested in making new connections with industry. If you own a business and want to make a huge difference to a student’s life, contact your local secondary school today.

If you’re a secondary school student and interested in exploring your career options, then there’s never been a better time than right now. Through programmes like Gateway, you can get ideas about what jobs are out there, find out which school subjects will help get you qualified and try out different options. Talk to your school’s career advisor or Gateway coordinator for more information, and check out the Career Services website at www.careers.govt.nz.