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Making the most of their people

Firms find valued staff make valuable staff, writes Helen Frances

Article published in the NZ Herald, 4 April 2012.

Staff at Stevenson Group don't get tied up in knots when they go to class. But they do work out ways to untie themselves as they brush up on literacy, numeracy, communication and other skills.  Fun, problem-solving activities that involve untangling string are part of a foundation skills course called Stepping Up Together that Stevenson Group has tailor-made for its staff.

Chief executive Mark Franklin's philosophy in life is that people are the most important resource.  "When you help people understand themselves, you get a better outcome at work. That's what Stepping Up Together is all about."

He says the company tries to choose people it thinks might be champions and take the learning back into the workplace. These people will coach this year's participants and support employees with literacy needs.

Stevenson Group worked with The Learning Wave to develop and deliver the five-day programme, which was attended by 52 employees over 14 weeks last year. Stevenson was highly commended at the EEO Trust Work and Life Awards 2011.

See the full NZ Herald article.

The Learning Wave feature in Mäori workforce literacy and numeracy outcomes report

Government and Mäori emphasise the critical importance of good literacy and numeracy skills for Mäori development, and more broadly for the New Zealand economy. Te Puni Kökiri recently completed a report on Mäori workforce literacy and numeracy outcomes.

See a copy of the full report.